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SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 



‘^The sparrow again waited until the child had almost reached him.” 

Page 155. 


^ ^^^rC^AxA-^f^crla <.. 

^ . S *■ Vw j 

Sparrow, the Tramp. 

9 JTafile for CijilDren. 


By lily F. WESSELHOEFT. 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSIE McDERMOTT. 



ROBERTS BROTHERS. 

1888. 


.Ws-i^ 

£ 


Copyright^ 1888, 

By Roberts Brothers. 

U ^ S 


University Press: 

John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. 


PUBLISHERS’ NOTE. 


The lamented author of “ Little Women ” in 
her last days read with great delight the manu- 
script of this little story ; and its publication is 
owing greatly to the interest which she had 
in it. 



» 

Mrs. Polly. 


9 


\ 

I 


* 


I 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


' CHAPTER I. 

“ . that sugar-bowl alone, Posy,’^ 

said Tom, as Posy extracted a 
lump while they were waiting for Papa 
and Mamma to come down to breakfast. 

“I’m not taking it for my self answered 
Posy, as plainly as the large lump in her 
mouth permitted her to speak ; “I’m only 
just getting a lump for Dicky.” 

“That’s a story,” said Tom. 

“ I was only just tasting it to see if it 
was a real sweet lump,” said Posy very 
distinctly now, for the lump had disap- 
peared. “ I did n’t mean to eat it, but it 
went all to pieces in my mouth.” 


8 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


You might have known it would,” said 
Tom. 

“ I guess I ’d better pick out a real hard 
lump next time,” said Posy ; and she made 
up her mind not to put that one in her 
mouth, so she only lapped it a little as she 
walked towards the canary’s cage. 

Just tlien a noise was heard from the 
china-closet, and Tom at once went to see 
what it was. 

Why, there ’s a mouse-hole right in 
the corner of that upper shelf,” he said ; 
‘‘ I thought it sounded like a mouse gnaw- 
ing.” 

‘‘Eats! rats!” called the parrot, whose 
cage hung in the window by the side of the 
canary’s. 

“You’re mistaken, ma’am,” said Tom; 
“ the barn-cat does n’t give the rats a 
chance to come into the house, — they live 
in the barn.” 

“Eats!” again cried the parrot. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


9 


Posy went up to the parrot’s cage and 
looked in. 

How do you do? How ’s your mother? ” 
asked the parrot, with her head on one 
side. 

Pretty well, I thank you, Mrs. Polly,” 
answered Posy ; and she could n’t resist the 
temptation of trying to seize the red feath- 
ers in Mrs. Polly’s tail and give them a 
little tweak. Mrs. Polly always resented 
such liberties, and made sudden dives at 
the chubby fingers ; but Posy had learned 
to be careful, and drew them out in time. 

You would n’t really bite Posy, would 
you ? ” asked the canary. 

‘‘No,” said Mrs. Polly, “ I would n’t ; but 
I guess you would n’t like to have your 
tail pulled every time she gets a chance. 
It does n’t hurt, you know, but it ’s very 
disagreeable. She steals the peanuts out of 
my cage, too, and eats them. She ’s a very 
mischievous child.” 


10 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ But she ’s kind and good,” answered 
the canary. 

Although this conversation took place be- 
tween the birds, to the children it seemed 
as if the canary sang his usual song and 
Polly chattered in her accustomed way. 

Just then Mr. and Mrs. Winton appeared, 
and the family took their places at the 
breakfast-table. 

Soon a slight rattling was heard among 
the dishes in the china-closet, and Mr. Win- 
ton cautiously approached the closet door 
and suddenly opened it. A large rat 
whisked into the hole Tom had discovered. 

“We never had a rat in the house be- 
fore,” said Mr. Winton, as he returned to his 
seat; “I am afraid the house-cat doesn’t 
do her duty. I never thought her so good 
a ratter as the barn-cat.” 

“Michael must stop up the hole at once 
with broken glass and mortar,” said Mrs. 
Winton ; “ I can’t have rats in the house.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


11 


“ Posy, run into the kitchen and see if 
Hannah has any more muffins,” said Papa ; 
for Katie, who had been both waitress and 
nurse to Posy, had been gone a few days, 
and her place had not been supplied. 

How long that child stays ! ” said Papa, 
when some minutes had elapsed and she 
did not return. 

“ Hannah is rather slow,” answered Mam^ 
ma, “and perhaps the muffins were not 
quite ready.” 

A few minutes more passed, but no Posy 
appeared. 

“ What can that thumping be I ” said 
Mamma. “ I can’t imagine what Hannah 
can be doing. I have heard it for some 
time. Do run and see what it means, 
Tom.” 

“ I should n’t wonder if Posy were up 
to some mischief,” said Tom, as he dis- 
appeared. 

“ What in the world can that boy be 


12 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


doing I ” exclaimed Papa, after they had 
waited some time and neither of the chil- 
dren appeared. 

“I will see what the trouble is,” said 
Mamma ; but before she rose from her seat 
Tom reappeared, laughing, and leading 
Posy, who appeared somewhat confused as 
she resumed her seat in silence. 

“What do you suppose Posy has been 
doing ? ” said Tom. “ She found Hannah 
down cellar getting coal, and she locked 
her down ; and then she took the house- 
kittens and dipped their heads in the pitcher 
of milk on the table and made ’em drink, 
and then she brought in the barn-kittens 
and made them drink too. Hannah said 
Posy made believe she did n’t hear when 
Hannah pounded on the door and told 
Posy to let her out. She said she heard 
Posy running backward and forward, hur- 
rying to get through before anybody 


came. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


13 


said Posy, “kittens have to be 
teached to drink milk, you know.” 

Papa laughed, as he was very apt to do 
when he heard of Posy’s mischief ; but 
when Mamma shook her head at him he 
stopped and tried to look very serious. 

“It was very naughty of you to lock 
Hannah down cellar. Posy,” he said; “you 
see I can’t have any more muffins, for it ’s 
time for me to go for the train.” 

Posy looked very sad to think she had 
been the cause of so much trouble, and 
Papa could never bear to see his little girl 
unhappy ; so lie caught her in his arms and 
kissed her, saying, — 

“ But I can’t help loving you, if you are 
naughty.” 

“ Hannah,” said Posy, as Hannah en- 
tered to take away the breakfast, “ my 
papa says it was very naughty in me to 
lock you down cellar, but that he loves 
me still.” 


14 


SPAEROW, THE TRAMP. 


Michael,” said Mr. Winton, as the horse 
was brought around to the door to take 
him to the depot, “ the rats gnawed a hole 
through the wall in the china-closet last 
night, and I want you to stop it up with 
mortar and broken glass.” 

‘^All right, sir,” answered Michael. 
the barn-cat could be in two places to onst, 
it ’s no rats ye ’d have in the house. She ’s 
a rale knowing baste, is the barn-cat. If 
you could only see the sinsible way she 
has wid them kittens of hers. She kapes 
thim out of doors in foine weather; and 
when the jew begins to fall, if it ’s shut the 
door is, she kapes thim walking about, for 
fear it ’s a cold they ’ll get.” 

Let ’s go and see them,” said Tom ; and 
off ran the children as Mr. Winton stepped 
into the carriage and drove off. 

Then, when all was still in the dining- 
room, a slight noise might have been heard 
in the china-closet, and a long nose and a 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


15 


pair of very sharp black eyes appeared in 
the new rat-hole. 

Looking cautiously around, and stopping 
every minute to listen, the rat ventured out. 
He was quite gray about the mouth from 
age, and had a particularly vicious look in 
his shrewd old eyes. Finding all still, he 
ventured out a little farther, and still far- 
ther, and at last slid down from the shelf 
and entered the dining-room. 

Mrs. Polly^s quick ears had heard him, 
and she watched him as he noiselessly 
moved about, picking up the crumbs that 
had fallen from the table. 

“ Hallo ! ” called out Mrs. Polly. 

Speak a little louder while you’re about 
it,” snarled the old rat, who had started at 
the sound of her voice and listened anxiously 
to hear if there were danger of detection ; 
and as he spoke he gave a very vicious 
grin that displayed his long yellow teeth, 
with one of the front ones broken. 


16 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


I have n’t time to sit for my portrait 
this morning,” resumed the old rat, as Mrs. 
Polly continued to gaze steadfastly at him. 
“ You ’ll know me the next time you see 
me, I hope ! ” 

I know you already,” said Mrs. Polly ; 
you ’re Gray Whisker.” 

“ Whew ! ” exclaimed tlie old rat, with 
another grin that showed the broken front 
tooth ; there ’s nothing like being famous.” 

“ I ’ve heard of you from my friend the 
barn-cat,” said Mrs. Polly. She has known 
you a long time, she says, but you don’t 
care to become very intimate with her ; ” 
and Mrs. Polly gave a short laugh that 
was very irritating to Gray Whisker’s 
nerves. 

The old fiend ! ” he exclaimed angrily ; 
of all tlie meddlesome old — ” 

“ Don’t get excited,” said Mrs. Polly 
calmly. 

“ You ’d better mind your own business,” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


17 


answered the old rat, or you ’ll find your- 
self in trouble. The barn-cat and you are 
two very different individuals, and I shan’t 
stand on ceremony with you, I can assure 
you.” 

Do stand on ceremony with me,” said 
Mrs. Polly, with another laugh. 

Gray Whisker brought his teeth savagely 
together ; but Mrs. Polly kept her cold gray 
eye on him in such a very unconcerned 
manner tliat he evidently thought better of 
his intention and resumed his search for 
food. 

“ Mean people these,” he muttered ; not 
a scrap left. Come, don’t be stingy, Mrs. 
Polly ; give me one of your peanuts there. 
I don’t know when I ’ve tasted a peanut, — 
not since the day Posy left a few and went 
into the house for a glass of water She 
did n’t find many left when she came back, 
though.” 

Come and get one if you want it,” said 
2 


18 


SPAKKOW, THE TRAMP. 


Mrs. Polly, eying five freshly roasted pea- 
nuts that lay on the bottom of her cage. 

Gray Whisker watched her shrewdly for 
an instant, but could n’t determine from 
her expressionless countenance whether she 
really meant what she said. 

“ It ’s easy enough to pick one out,” he 
said to himself as he began to climb the 
drapery that hung by the parrot’s cage. 

Mrs. Polly watched him as he nimbly 
pulled himself up, and sat with her head 
inclined slightly forward, following every 
motion of his. When opposite the cage, he 
seized it with one of his forepaws, and with 
the other tried to fish out a particularly fat 
peanut ; but before he could draw it out 
Mrs. Polly’s sharp beak pounced down on 
the paw, and he gave a squeal of pain. 

“Did it taste as well as those you stole 
from Posy ? ” asked Mrs. Polly. 

“ You old vixen ! ” began Gray Whisker, 
“ you — ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


19 


“ Don’t swear,” said Mrs. Polly coolly. 

The canary had been a silent spectator 
all this time, and hardly dared to breathe ; 
but when Mrs. Polly pounced on the old 
rat’s paw she gave a nervous flutter. 

“ Oh ! I hadn’t noticed you before, my 
friend,” exclaimed Gray Whisker, with his 
horrible grin ; “ you ’re a very tender mor- 
sel, and I ’m not a bit afraid of your soft 
little beak ; ” and the old villain began to 
descend the curtain on Mrs. Polly’s side and 
ascend the one that hung by the canary’s 
cage. 

Poor Dicky was completely paralyzed 
with terror. Up came the gray nose and 
wicked-looking eyes nearer and nearer, and 
yet poor Dicky sat without stirring, his 
terrified eyes fastened on the horrible mon- 
ster that could crush him with one grasp of 
his paw. At last he was opposite the cage, 
and was about to reach out his paw to 
seize it, when the spell that kept Dicky 


20 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


silent seemed broken, and he fluttered about, 
uttering cries of terror. The strong paw still 
held the cage, and the other paw reached in 
between the wires ; but as the frightened 
bird, in his agitation, fluttered within reach 
of the relentless paw, Mrs. Polly gave a 
shrill whistle, and then another louder still. 

A rustling was heard in the bushes outside 
the window, and at the sound Gray Whisker 
descended the curtain and scurried into the 
closet, disappearing into his hole as the 
house-cat, with gleaming eyes, jumped on 
the window-sill and glared around. 

“Which way did he go? ” she demanded. 
The gray nose was pushed cautiously out 
of the hole, and a voice said, — 

“ Mrs. House-cat, did you ever get left ? ” 



CHAPTER 11. 


Posy caught up the kittens to 
carry them back to their nest in the 
barn, it was no wonder that tlie barn-cat 
followed her with a distressed and anxious 
countenance. Posy had been in such a 
hurry that she had taken one of the barn- 
kittens and one of the house-kittens ! 

The barn-cat tried very hard to make the 
little girl understand her mistake, and ran 
about her with her tail in the air and crying 
dismally ; but Posy did n’t understand, and 
ran back to the house after putting the kit- 
tens in their nest. How the barn-cat did 
wish she could speak ! She looked at the 
kitten that belonged to the house-cat. It 
was very pretty, — maltese, with a little 


22 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


wliite on the breast and about the nose, 
very like its mother. 

It ^s rather a good-looking kitten, there ’s 
no doubt about that,” said the barn-cat, 
“ but to my mind not half so pretty and 
cunning as my little tiger-kitten that Posy 
left in the kitchen. That house-cat does n’t 
know how to bring up a family ; she ’ll spoil 
this one just as she has all of her others. 
It’ll grow up as vain and indolent as she 
is herself. I ’m sure I don’t want it here. 
Come,” she said, poking the kitten with 
her paw, you just run home again, will 
you ? ” 

The house-kitten . did n’t seem to under- 
stand what the barn- cat said, for she evi- 
dently thought the cat wanted to play with 
her, and she tried to catch the big paw in 
both of her little ones. 

Well, you are cunning,” said the bam- 
cat. “ It ’s too bad to have you grow up a 
spoilt child. You ’ll never be as smart as 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


23 


my kittens, of course, but I Ve a great mind 
to keep you and see wliat you ’ll make if 
you are properly brought up.” 

She did n’t like to show the kitten that 
she was watching her, for it might make her 
vain : so she pretended to be looking very 
intently at something out in the yard and 
gently moved the tip of her tail, but she 
looked out of the corners of her eyes and 
saw the little house-kitten at once try to 
catch it. 

Pretty well,” she said to herself, “ con- 
sidering you ’ve never had any instruction. 
When you ’re a little older I ’ll teach you 
how to crouch and spring, the way I do my 
own kittens.” 

Now that the bam-cat had decided to 
keep the house-kitten, she set about washing 
it ; for Posy had dipped its head so far into 
the milk-pitcher that it presented a very 
untidy appearance. 

She washed it in a most thorough man- 


24 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


ner ; but the barn-cat was not so gentle in 
her ways as the house-cat, and the little 
house-kitten thought her pretty rough. 

“You mustn’t be a baby and cry for 
nothing,” said the barn-cat, when the kitten 
gave a mew as the rough tongue lifted her 
off her feet; “I see you’ve been coddled 
too much already.” 

Just then a plaintive cry was heard from 
the kitchen, and with one leap the barn-cat 
was out of her nest and running up to the 
kitchen door. She did n’t dare go in ; for 
there was Hannah, and she knew by expe- 
rience that she would be driven out if she 
attempted to enter. What was to be done ? 

The barn-cat jumped on the window- 
sill and looked in. There was her darling 
in the box by tlie stove and crying help- 
lessly for her. The mother cat gave a low 
mew, which the baby kitten heard and un- 
derstood just as a human baby understands 
when its mother speaks soothingly to it. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


25 


“Oh dear!” exclaimed the barn-cat, “if 
I could only get into that kitchen 1 I know 
what I dl do. I ’ll tell Mrs. Polly about 
it, and see what she advises ; she ’s very 
wise.” 

So the barn- cat jumped down from the 
kitchen window and on the sill of the 
dining-room window, which stood open. 
Posy was in the room, and so was Mrs. 
AYinton ; but they could n’t understand the 
language animals converse in. 

“ Why, there is the barn-cat,” cried Posy, 
right on the window-seat 1 ” 

“ Don’t frighten her away, but watch her 
quietly,” said Mamma; “I like to have her 
come about the house ; ” and Posy was very 
careful not to make any noise. 

“I do believe that barn-cat is telling 
Polly something. Mamma,” said Posy in a 
low tone; “her keeps mewing, and Polly 
looks just as if her was listening.” 

“Polly is certainly very talkative this 


26 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


morning,” answered Mamma ; “ it really does 
seem as if they were talking together.” 

I wish I knew what they were saying,” 
said Posy. 

This is what they said : — 

I ’m in trouble, Mrs. Polly,” began the 
barn-cat, and I want you to help me out 
of it.” 

“Well,” answered Polly, with her very 
wisest expression, “ what ’s the matter I ” 

Then the bam-cat told about Posy’s mis- 
take, and how anxious it made her to have 
her kitten away from her. 

“ It ’s just like Posy,” answered Polly ; 
“ she ’s a very mischievous child. She al- 
ways tweaks my tail whenever she gets a 
chance.” 

“ But she ’s a dear, loving child,” said the 
barn-cat warmly. “ How she did cry when 
they gave away my last kittens ! ” 

“Yes, she ’s a good little thing,” said 
Polly. “ If ’t was anybody else that pulled 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


27 


my tail, I give ’em such a nip that they 
would n’t try it again in a hurry ; hut no- 
body could hurt Posy. She does fish some 
of my peanuts out of my cage and eat 'em 
up sometimes, but then she does n’t mean 
any harm.” 

‘^What I want to know is whether you 
can think of any way for me to get my 
kitten back,” said the barn-cat. “ I tried 
to make Posy understand what a dreadful 
mistake she ’d made, but she was in such a 
hurry she did n’t see it.” 

Mrs. Polly put her head on one side in a 
very knowing and contemplative manner. 
After a few moments’ reflection she said. 
The thing to do is to get Hannah out of 
the kitchen for a while.” 

“ That ’s very evident,” said the canary, 
who had been listening attentively and 
did n’t like to be left out of the conver- 
sation. 

If it ’s so very evident,” said Mrs. 


28 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Polly, bristling np, why don’t you do 
it I” 

I did n’t say I could do it ; but if I 
could talk as you can, I would,” answered 
the canary good-naturedly. 

“How would you do it, pray?” asked 
Mrs. Polly in an irritable tone. 

“Why, I'd call Hannah the way Mrs. 
Winton does. I heard you call her the 
other day, and I declare I would n't have 
believed it was n’t she. I never knew a 
bird that could talk as plainly as you do.” 

The canary was so good-natured that 
Mrs. Polly was ratlier ashamed of her ill- 
temper, and gave a sneeze and cough to 
hide her embarrassment. 

“Well,” she said, after a pause, “perhaps 
that 's as good a way as any other. I did 
think of yelling to make her think I ’d got 
my head caught between the wires, but 
Posy does n’t like to hear such a noise. 
You go ’round to the kitchen door,” she 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


29 


said to the barn-cat; “and when Hannah 
leaves the kitchen you just dart in, seize 
your kitten, and run off with it.” 

The barn-cat hardly waited to hear the 
last words, and ran around to the kitchen 
door. She had hardly arrived there when 
she heard Polly call “ Hannah ! ” so exactly 
like Mrs. Win ton that Hannah dropped the 
broom with which she was sweeping the 
floor, and answering, “Yes, ma’am,” hurried 
into the dining-room. 

In darted the barn-cat, caught up her 
darling in her mouth, and had it back in 
her own nest in the barn before Hannah 
had discovered how Polly had “fooled” 
her, as she called it. 

But when the house-cat came home from 
her visit, imagine what was her surprise 
and grief to find one of her babies gone ! 

“ That barn-cat ! ” she exclaimed, “I be- 
lieve she has stolen it because it ’s so much 
prettier than her common-looking babies. 


30 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


She was always as jealous as she could be 
of them ! ” and out to the barn went the 
house-cat. 

“I never visited her before,” she said to 
herself, she ^s so countrified in her ways 
and lives in a barn ; but I must see if she ’s 
got my baby.” 

The barn-cat knew what she was coming 
for as soon as she caught sight of her. 

“ I want my kitten,” said the house-cat, 
going up to the box ; and she stepped very 
daintily and held her head very high, as if 
she were afraid of soiling her shining fur. 
‘‘I should think you ’d be ashamed of your- 
self to slink into the house and steal my 
kitten ! But I don’t suppose you know any 
better, as you ’ve never been used to good 
society.” 

“ I did n’t steal your kitten ! I don’t want 
your old kitten ; it is n’t half so smart or 
pretty as mine are.” 

Indeed ! ” answered the house-cat with 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


31 


a toss of her head. “ Your common-look- 
ing tiger-kittens ! Look at my baby’s soft 
skin and her gentle little ways ! ” 

“ I ’ll leave it to Posy if mine are not 
the smartest and handsomest,” answered the 
barn-cat angrily. ‘‘ They had hard work 
to get anybody to take your kittens tlie last 
time, and mine were spoken for before they 
had their eyes open ! ” 

The house-cat was very angry, but she 
knew there was truth in what the barn-cat 
said ; so she only repeated, “ Indeed ! ” in 
a very scornful manner, and tossed her 
head. 

“You coddle your children too much,” 
continued the barn-cat. “You keep them 
by the warm stove, and don’t take them 
out doors often enough. That makes them 
tender.” 

“ When I want your advice I ’ll ask for 
it,” answered the house-cat loftily, as she 
took up her kitten and went home with it. 


32 


SPARROW; THE TRAMP. 


It was a pretty enough kitten, though I 
was n’t going to tell her so,” said the barn- 
cat to herself. “ I think I could have made 
a smart kitten of it, but it will only be 
spoiled now ; ” and the barn-cat sighed as 
she lapped a rough spot on one of her 
kitten's ears. 

“ Meaw ! meaw ! ” was heard in plaintive 
tones just outside the barn-door. It was a 
new voice, and the barn-cat quickly sprang 
up to see what was the matter. On the step 
of the barn-door sat a little gray kitten with 
a rough and muddy fur, who looked as if 
she had travelled a long way. She kept 
uttering sad little mews ; and as she turned 
her head towards the barn-cat the latter saw 
that she was blind. 



CHAPTER III. 

where did you come from, I 
should like to know?” asked the 
barn-cat sharply ; for the little gray kitten 
didn’t present a very respectable appear- 
ance, and she was very particular about the 
company her family kept. 

Oh ! I Ve come a long, long way,” said 
the gray kitten in a sad little voice, all 
the way from the other side of the town, 
and I am very tired.” 

Why did n’t you stay at home ? ” said 
the barn-cat. Home ’s the best place for 
young people.” 

I have n’t got any home,” sighed the 
gray kitten. 

That ’s a likely story,” said the barn- 

3 


34 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


cat shortly. “ Where ^s your mother ? She 
must be a nice kind of a mother not to pro- 
vide a home for her children. Every cat 
can do that.” 

“ I have n’t got any mother,” said the 
little gray kitten sadly. 

The barn-cat gave her nose a sharp rub 
with her paw, — a habit she had when her 
feelings were touched. 

“ Well, you live somewhere, I suppose. 
Who gives you food I You can’t live on 
air.” 

“ Last night I slept in a hollow tree,” 
said the gray kitten, “and I assure you I 
don’t get much to eat. If it had n’t been 
for a little girl sharing her food with me, I 
should have starved long ago, for I am 
’most blind and can’t see well enough to 
make my own living.” 

“ I should like to hear your story,” said 
the barn- cat, “and then we ’ll see what can 
be done for you. Let me see — ” and 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


35 


she rubbed her ear in a contemplative way. 
“ I think we ’d better let Mrs. Polly and 
the canary hear your story, too. They are 
both pretty wise, and three heads are better 
than one any day. There comes that house- 
cat ; she ^s nobody.” 

So the barn-cat led the way to the open 
window where the parrot’s and canary’s 
cages were hanging. 

“ What under the sun have you got 
there ? ” asked Mrs. Polly, eying the poor 
little gray kitten shrewdly. 

The barn-cat had jumped on the win- 
dow-seat, but the gray kitten had modestly 
seated herself on the ground under the win- 
dow. The house-cat, too, had joined the 
group, and placed herself where she could 
watch the little gray kitten. She stared 
at the poor little thing so scornfully that 
she did n’t know which way to look ; so 
she looked on the ground and presented a 
very miserable appearance indeed, with her 


36 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

soiled and rumpled fur and her poor half- 
blind eyes. 

“ Where did you pick her up I ” asked 
Mrs. Polly. 

I don’t know much more about her than 
you do,” answered the barn-cat. I found 
her a few minutes ago on the door-step of 
the barn, and she tells me she has come 
from the other side of the town, and that 
she hasn’t any mother. I thought you’d 
better see her and hear her story, and per- 
haps you ’d think of something that could 
be done for her.” 

Mrs. Polly put on her wise look and gave 
a little Ahem ! for it always gratified her to 
be looked up to and asked for advice. 

Meanwhile the house-cat sat staring the 
poor gray kitten out of countenance. My 
advice is to send her back where she came 
from,” she said. “ Anybody can see that 
she ’s only a tramp. I won’t have my 
children taught any of her common ways. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


37 


Besides, there are too many cats around 
already,’^ she added, eying the barn-cat 
so scornfully that it was very evident she 
referred to her and her kittens. 

Whoever she is and wherever she comes 
from, it ’s as plain as the nose on your face 
that she ’s been well brought up,” answered 
the barn-cat quickly. “ She ’s quiet and 
lady-like in her manners, and that ^s more 
than can be said of some who’ve had the 
best of advantages.” 

She 's a common kitten, probably 
brought up in a barn,” said the house-cat 
contemptuously, “ and has no style what- 
ever.” 

This was too much for the barn-cafs en- 
durance, and she gave an angry spit, when 
the canary, who was always the peace- 
maker, interposed. 

“ Whatever she may be,” said the canary 
gently, “ she ’s neglected and unfortunate ; 
so, if Mrs. Polly will find out her story, I ’m 


38 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


sure she will find a way to help her out of 
her troubles. If lier wise head can’t, I don’t 
know whose can.” 

Well,” said Mrs. Polly, I should have 
done so long ago if our friends here had n’t 
taken up so much time in disputing. Now, 
little gray kitten, tell us all you know 
about yourself, — where you were born, and 
how it happens that you are left alone in 
this big world to take care of yourself.” 

“ I can’t remember very much about my- 
self,” began the little gray kitten in a plain- 
tive voice, “but I know we were always 
poor. My mother worked very hard to 
support us, for the woman who kept us was 
very mean and never gave us anything to 
eat. I have heard my mother say she was 
the meanest woman she ever knew. She 
said she had heard her say that she kept a 
cat to get rid of the rats and mice, and that 
she expected her to earn her own living.” 

“Well,” interrupted the barn-cat, “that 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


39 


is all very well for a single cat ; but when a 
cat has a young family it comes pretty hard 
to keep them supplied with food. I never 
let my children eat mice ; it does n’t agree 
with them, — gives ’em the stomach-ache 
and makes ’em titty.” 

^^It’s no harm to give ’em a mouse to 
play with,” said the house-cat ; I often do 
mine.” 

When you catch one, which isn’t often,” 
said the barn-cat in an undertone. 

What was that you said ? ” asked the 
house-cat sharply ; “be kind enough to say 
it a little louder.” 

“ Oh, come, come,” put in the canary, 
“ do let the gray kitten go on with her 
story. You were telling us that your 
mother had to catch all the food for you.” 

“Yes,” continued the little gray kitten, 
“ so she did. She often brought us mice, 
and sometimes a bird, — birds agreed best 
with us, she said.” 


40 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Dear me ! ” exclaimed the canary with 
a sliudder, “ what a very bloodthirsty cat 
your mother must have been ! ” 

Excuse me, I did n’t mean to hurt your 
feelings,” said the little gray kitten, so po- 
litely that Mrs. Polly said to herself with 
a little nod of satisfaction, — 

Very well brought up, indeed ! ” 

Go on, my dear, with your story,” said 
Mrs. Polly, aloud. “ How many were there 
of you I ” 

“ There were only my brother and my- 
self,” answered the little gray kitten. My 
mother said there were two others, but they 
died very young, — before they had their 
eyes open. She said she thought they 
didn’t have enough to eat.” 

‘^Well, how about your mother? I’m 
anxious to hear about her,” said the barn- 
cat. 

It makes me very sad to think about 
it,” continued the little gray kitten, almost 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


41 


crying*. One day my motlier told me and 
my brother that she was going to teach ns 
how to hunt. It was the first time we 
had been out of doors ; we lived in an 
old shed. It was a very pleasant day, 
and the air was so fresh, and the birds did 
look so tempting — I beg your pardon,” 
she added, as the canary began to flutter 
nervously. 

Never mind ; go on with your story,” 
said the canary good-naturedly. “It^s your 
nature ; ydu are nh to blame.” 

The little gray kitten was so embarrassed 
by this interruption that she forgot where 
she had left off in her story ; but then she 
was so very little ! 

You were saying,” said Mrs. Polly, 
that your mother took you out of doors 
to teach you to hunt.” 

Oh yes,” answered the gray kitten, “so 
I was. Well, it was very pleasant, and 
we enjoyed ourselves very much, and I 


42 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


caught a little field-mouse, and so did my 
brother ; and our mother praised us, and said 
that after all perhaps we would turn out 
smarter cats than if we had been brought 
up to have everything we wanted, for then 
we might have become lazy.” 

Very true, indeed,” interrupted the barn- 
cat, with a triumphant glance at the house- 
cat. Your mother must have been a very 
sensible cat ! ” 

Well, then what happened, little one ? ” 
asked Mrs. Polly ; for the gray kitten was 
again thrown off her balance by the inter- 
ruption. 

“ The next is very sad, indeed,” said the 
gray kitten. We were going home, so 
happy to think our dear mother was so 
pleased with us, when all at once we heard 
a dreadful noise. My brother and I were 
frightened half to death, for we had never 
heard a noise like it. My mother said it 
was a dog, and there was a boy with it, — 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


43 


a bad boy ; my mother said all boys were 
bad — 

Not all boys,” said the barn-cat. “ Tom 
is n’t a bad boy ; he would n’t hurt a kitten 
for the world. I ’d trust him anywhere 
with my kittens.” 

He is n’t so mischievous as Posy is,” 
said the house-cat. 

“ Posy is n’t mischievous,” said the barn- 
cat warmly ; “ she does n’t mean to do mis- 
chief. You can’t call it mischief when she 
thinks she ’s doing something to help you 
all the time.” 

“ Please don’t interrupt so often,” said the 
canary ; you said, little kitten, that a big 
dog and a boy came up.” 

Yes,” continued the little gray kitten ; 
and as soon as the boy saw us he said, 
‘ Hie, Eover, seize ’em, sir ! ’ and the big 
dog, looking, oh, so fierce and angry, 
rushed at us with his mouth wide open, 
and making that dreadful noise. There was 


44 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


a tree near us, and my mother told my 
brother and me to climb up the tree as 
quickly as we could. My poor mother 
gave us the first chance, for she knew we 
could n’t climb as well as she could, and she 
stood at the foot of the tree witli her fur all 
bristling up and spitting at the big dog. We 
got up to the first branches where the dog 
could n’t reach us ; but before my poor moth- 
er had time to follow us the big dog seized 
her, and gave her one shake and killed her.” 

Her hearers were very quiet as the littlo 
gray kitten ceased and sat crying softly 
to herself The barn-cat gave her nose a 
sharp rub with her paw, and then jumped 
down and examined very carefully a hole 
under the window, as if she expected to 
find a mouse there. Her feelings were 
very much touched, for she could n’t help 
thinking how dreadful it would be if her 
little kittens were left without a mother to 
care for them. 


# 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


45 


“Well,” she said, after a pause, com- 
ing back to her place on the window-sill, 
“ what did your brother and you do 
then I ’’ 

“We waited till the boy and the big dog 
were gone,” said the little gray kitten, “ and 
then we climbed down from the tree and 
went home. It was very lonely in the old 
shed, and we almost starved to death, for 
we were too small to catch mice enough to 
satisfy our appetites. My brother got tired 
of living so, and said he was going to try 
to find a better home where they would 
feed him, but I stayed where I was.” 

“ How about that girl you said used to 
feed you?” asked the house-cat. 

“ She was a poor little girl who did n’t 
have any mother either, and the woman I 
belonged to made her work hard and gave 
her very little to eat; but she pitied me, 
and often went hungry herself to share her 
food with me ” 


46 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ What made your eyes so bad, my 
dear ? asked Mrs. Polly kindly. 

think it must have been the cold; it 
was very cold in the shed.” 

There was a few minutes’ silence, and 
then Mrs. Polly said, — 

have been thinking the matter over, 
and I believe the best thing to do is to get 
Posy to hel|) us. You put yourself in the 
way where she ’ll see you,” she said to the 
little gray kitten, “ and all will be well.” 



The poor little girl and the blind kitten. — Page 45. 


CHAPTER IV. 

JpOSY and Tom were seated on the 
kitchen door-step, and the two house- 
kittens lay in Posy’s lap. Posy was in a 
very thoughtful mood, and sat watching the 
kittens in silence. 

“ I Ve been wondering, Tom,” she said 
at last, “ where God keeps his babies that 
have n’t got any wings.” 

“ Why, babies don’t ever have wings, 
Posy,” said Tom. 

Yes, they do, the angel babies. I 
mean the ones he brings down here to 
people.” 

“ Oh ! ” said Tom, I suppose he has 
some nice place to keep ’em in.” 

“I should think,” said Posy thoughtfully, 


48 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

“ that we might see Him when he goes 
around from house to house.” 

Why, of course we can’t,” answered 
Tom decidedly. 

Posy played with the kittens in her 

lap. 

Come, Kitty, and have your bonnet on,” 
she said, folding her handkercliief over the 
head of one of the kittens and tying it 
under her chin. Poor thing, you have n’t 
got a single dress after your name, and I 
must make you one. And I guess I ’d. bet- 
ter make some little cow-catchers around 
your forehead ; they are very becoming to 
your little rosy face.” 

^‘Cow-catchers!” laughed Tom. ^‘You 
mean beau-catchers ! What a little goosie 
you are. Posy 1 ” 

“I know that just as well as you can,” 
answered Posy, blushing ; and she thought 
it best to turn the conversation. 

“Tom,” she said, “I guess I shall marry 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


49 


you when I hn grown up, — either you or 
Papa.” 

“ People can’t marry their fathers ! ” said 
Tom, with an air of superior wisdom, “ be- 
cause they ’ve got married already, you 
know.” 

“Well, then, I shall marry you, because 
I love you so much. People can marry 
their brothers, can’t they, Tom'?” 

“ I don’t know about that,” answered 
Tom shrewdly. 

“Well, then, let me see — who shall I 
marry? I did think of marrying Mary 
Weston, but her’s married already, you 
know. I guess I ’ll marry Mr. Dawson.” 

“ I know why,” said Tom quickly ; “ it ’s 
because he ’s got some puppies ! Oh, you 
selfish girl ! ” 

“I don’t care,” said poor Posy in a very 
crestfallen manner ; “I’d give you one of 
the puppies, Tom.” 

“ I guess Mr. Dawson will be out of the 
4 


50 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


world long before you ’re ready to git mar- 
ried, Posy,” said Hannah, who had been 
listening to the conversation between the 
children ; ‘Hie must be nigh onto seventy if 
he’s a day. Well, Tom, who do you in- 
tend to marry?” 

“If I marry for love,” answered Tom, 
“ I shall marry Auntie ; but if I marry for 
money, I shall marry Katie Thomas, be- 
cause her father ’s got more money than 
old Mr. Thornton, and he ’s got a hundred 
dollars in the bank.” 

“ Well, I never ! ” said Hannah; “ but I 
guess I ’d better be about my work. I wish 
that lazy Michael would bring me in some 
wood. He grows worse every day. I bet 
he ’s asleep somewhere, — he usually is 
asleep when there ’s anything to be done.” 

“He’s gone to get Major shod,” said 
Tom ; “I saw him go down the yard with 
him.” 

“ There he comes ! ” said Posy, as a man 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


51 


appeared leading a handsome chestnut horse 
up the yard. 

“Good-morning, Michael,’’ called Posy 
when he was opposite the kitchen door. 

“ Good-morning, Miss,” answered Mi- 
chael. 

“Have you had a nap to-day, Michael ? ” 
asked Posy in her sweetest way. 

“No, Miss,” answered Michael, as he led 
the horse into the barn. 

“ That child does beat anything I ever 
see,” said Hannah, laughing, as she went 
about her work again. 

Suddenly a dreadful noise was heard 
from the direction of the dining-room win- 
dow, — shrieks as if somebody were in 
great distress. 

“ Polly ’s got her head caught between 
the wires,” cried Tom, jumping up and run- 
ning around to the window. Posy quickly 
dumped the kittens into their nest and fol- 
lowed him as fast as she could. As soon 


52 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


as they appeared Polly burst into a loud 
laugh. 

‘‘The next time I shan’t believe you, 
ma’am, you ’ve fooled me so many times,” 
said Tom. 

“Oh, Tom,” cried Posy, “look, see! see 
this poor little gray kitten 1 Poor thing, 
her ’s awful thin, and her looks as if her 
did n’t have any home.” 

“ Why, she ’s blind 1 ” said Tom. “ Poor 
kitty, come, I won’t hurt you;” and he 
lifted the little gray kitten very gently, 
and sat down on the piazza step softly 
stroking it. 

“ Her is n’t one bit afraid of us,” said 
Posy, seating herself beside Tom and 
stroking the kitten too. “ Her knows we 
won’t hurt her, don’t her, Tom?” 

The little gray kitten had heard all about 
the children, and felt perfectly secure with 
them. 

“ Her ’s purring!” cried Posy joyfully. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


53 


I mean to ask Mamma if I can keep 
her.*' And oif ran Posy to Mamma’s 
room. 

“ There ’s a poor little gray kitten out 
, doors, Mamma,” said Posy, all out of breath 
from hurrying, “ and her ’s blind of one 
eye. Can’t I keep her and take care of 
her I Her looks like her did n’t have any 
home at all.” 

“ Yes,” said Mamma, “ you may ask Han- 
nah to give you a saucer of milk for 
her.” 

Her ’s blind of loth eyes,” cried Posy, 
bursting into tears ; “ but I thouglit you 
would n’t let me keep her if you knew 
it.” 

^‘Why, my dear little girl,” answered 
Mamma, drawing Posy to her side, love 
to have you kind to animals, and particu- 
larly so to those that are helpless and 
can’t take care of themselves. Don’t cry, 
my darling, you shall give this poor little 


54 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


kitten a comfortable home, and make her 
as happy as if she were not blind.’’ 

“ But it makes me feel bad to think her 
can’t see,” said Posy, sobbing. 

Think, my darling, how much more 
comfortable you can make her than she has 
ever been before ; and perhaps it is not so 
bad as you think, — she may not be wholly 
blind.’^ 

So Mamma put down her sewing, and 
went with Posy to look at the little gray 
kitten, who all this time had been purring 
away contentedly in Tom’s lap. 

“ Oh no,” said Mamma, “ she is n’t wholly 
blind, she can see out of one eye ; and 
we will bathe her eyes with some warm 
water and a soft sponge, and she will feel 
as comfortable as possible.” 

knew how it would be,” said the par- 
rot to the canary, as the kitten was carried 
off to the kitchen to be fed. 

Kind people, every one of theufi,” 


an- 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


55 


swered the canary, hopping about for joy. 

Hallo ! what ’s the barn-cat up to I Do 
look at her!” 

The barn-cat was creeping cautiously 
along the yard, her body almost touching 
the ground and her eyes glowing with 
eagerness. Sometimes she stopped for an 
instant and swislied her tail excitedly, then 
went on again. The canary and Mrs. 
Polly soon saw what it was that excited 
her so. A little sparrow sat on a stone 
a few rods off, pluming his j feathers in a 
very unconcerned manner. The barn-cat 
stopped and wriggled her body for a final 
spring, when all at once Mrs. Polly screamed 
out, Scat 1 scat ! ” in so loud a voice and 
so exactly like a human being that the 
barn-cat stopped in her spring and the spar- 
row flew up into a bush oj^posite the dining- 
room window. 

Certainly the sparrow was a very rowdy- 
looking bird. His feathers were rumpled 


56 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

and many of them broken, and he had a 
very independent air that was a great con- 
trast to the refined manner of the well-kept 
canary. 

“ Who are you, pray ? ” asked Mrs. Polly, 
eying the new-comer curiously. 

“ Can’t you see f ” answered the sparrow 
in a hoarse voice. 

It ’s very evident you ’re a tramp,” said 
Mrs. Polly. “ What do you want here ? ” 

I did n’t know you ’d got a lease of the 
place, or I would n’t have come,” answered 
the sparrow pertly. 

“ Come now, keep a civil tongue in 
your head,” said Mrs. Polly. “You’ll find 
it to your advantage. Where do you 
live ? ” 

“ Wherever I can. Sometimes in one 
place, sometimes in another.” 

“ That looks bad,” said Mrs. Polly gravely. 
“ Did you ever hear the proverb that Y'oll- 
ing stones gather no moss ’ ? ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 57 

Now look liere, Mrs. Parrot, I have n’t 
asked anything of yon, and I ain’t going to. 
I acknowledge I ’m a tramp, if having no 
home makes a bird one. I get my food 
where I can, but I don’t do anybody any 
harm. If I prefer to live that way, whose 
business is it but my own ? ” 

You ’ve been fighting, I see,” said Mrs. 
Polly gravely ; “ ’t is n’t respectable.” 

Now look here, ma’am ! You’re kept in 
a cage, and have your food given you regu- 
lar, and don’t have to trouble yourself about 
where your next meal is to come from. I 
live where I can, pick up my own meals 
where I can find ’em ; if I can’t find ’em I 
go without. I sleep out in all kinds of 
weather, and that makes my feathers rough 
and my voice hoarse ; but I want you to 
understand that I ’m just as good a fel- 
low as if I had a red tail and a hooked 
nose.” 

That ’s very true,’’ said the good-na- 


58 


SPARROW;, THE TRAMP. 


tured canary, I should like to make your 
acquaintance. You go about so much you 
must see and hear a good many things that 
we don’t.^’ 

Well, I guess I could tell you a thing 
or two that would make your feathers curl,’" 
answered the stranger. 

Just then the children came along with 
the little gray kitten that had been washed 
and fed, and seated themselves on the steps 
of the piazza. 

Hallo ! ” called out the sparrow to the 
little gray kitten, “ how in the world did 
you turn up here ‘F ” 

“ Do you know her I ” asked Mrs. Polly. 

Well, I should rather think I did, seeing 
as I have lived, as you might say, in the 
same family.” 

“ How is little Nancy ? ” asked the lit- 
tle gray kitten. I have worried a good 
deal about that child since I left home. 
That ’s the little girl I told you was so 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 59 

kind to me,” she said in explanation to the 
parrot. 

She ^s well,” answered the sparrow, ^^but 
I pity the poor thing with all my heart. 
This morning she came out and sat on the 
door-step, and I saw she was crying, and 
she says to me, ^ Billy ’ (she always called 
me Billy), ^ I can’t give you anything to eat 
this morning because I have n’t got any- 
thing myself, and I did n’t get any supper 
last night either, Billy, because I couldn’t 
sell any matches.’ She did n’t know I sensed 
what she was saying, but I did. Look 
here ! You seem pretty well off around 
here. I see the little gray kitten has fallen 
into good hands. Can’t you do something 
for a poor child that’s half starved and 
abused ? ” 

Oh, do, Mrs. Polly ! ” said the little gray 
kitten. You were so kind to me, do find 
some way to get that poor little Nancy with 
these good people.” 


60 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Well/^ said Mrs. Polly, I ’ll think it 
over and see what can be done about it.” 

How loud this gray kitten does purr,” 
said Posy. “ I guess her ’s telling us how 
happy her is to get here, don’t you, Tom'?” 



Posy and Tom were seated on the kitchen door-step.’ 
Page 47. 


CHAPTER V. 


^HE next morning Major, the horse, was 
eagerly eating his breakfast of nice 
fresh oats. He was an easy-tempered fel- 
low, but this morning he was greatly an- 
noyed, and with good reason ; he was very 
hungry and must share his breakfast with 
several rats that were bold enough to ven- 
ture into his manger and steal his oats from 
before his very eyes. 

I do wish my friend the barn-cat would 
not take the opportunity to go out while I 
am eating,” said Major to himself I knew 
how it would be when she told me she must 
go and see Mrs. Polly about this plan of 
bringing that child Nancy here. ^ When 
the cat’s away the mice will play,’ and 


62 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


what more, the rats too. Here, old Gray- 
whisker, you come any nearer and I ’ll bite 
off your tail ! ” 

“ I ’d like to see you do it,” snarled the 
old rat ; and as he spoke he showed his long 
yellow teeth witli one of them broken off, 
which gave him a very disagreeable expres- 
sion. “ I ’d like to see you stop us from 
eating a few of your oats. You ’re too fat 
already ; I heard Mr. Winton tell Michael 
so the other day.” 

I should be loath to tell you what I ’ve 
heard him say about you,” answered Major 
angrily ; you would n’t sleep very well 
nights if I did.” 

The old rat forgot his usual caution, and 
came nearer to Major’s face than ever be- 
fore ; and Major, his patience gone, gave a 
sudden snort and pushed them all out of the 
manger with his nose. Then when he was 
left alone he went on eating his breakfast. 
After that he found himself becoming very 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


63 


sleepy, and shutting his eyes he fell into a 
doze. As he slept the old rat stole quietly 
out of his hole and looked cautiously about. 

Come,” he said to the others, “ come 
out on the barn floor, for I have something 
of importance to say to you, and this is a 
good time, as Major is asleep, and the barn- 
cat off. Here, you Silvertail, you keep a 
sharp lookout in every direction, and tell 
me if you see the barn-cat coming.” 

The young rat addressed, quickly climbed 
on the window-sill, whence he could com- 
mand a fine view of the entrances to the barn. 

Do you see anything of the barn-cat ? ” 
asked the old rat. 

Yes, I see her right in front of the 
dining-room window ; and by the way she 
swishes her tail I know she ’s talking pretty 
fast.” 

“ Well, let her swish,” answered the old 
rat ; she ’ll find there are some people in 
the world as smart as she is.” 


64 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


The old rat, Graywhisker, seated him- 
self, and the other rats came flocking out of 
their holes and placed themselves in a circle 
about him. Some of tliem brought their 
young families, as they could n’t trust them 
alone. 

I don’t see any of our friends the mice,” 
said Graywhisker, looking about with his 
sharp old eyes. Some of you young fel- 
lows run over to Mrs. Silverskin, and tell 
her I want to see her at once ; and be quick 
about it too.” 

Two young rats started off, and began to 
climb to the hay-mow, playing tag on the 
way. 

“ Here, none of your fooling ! ” called out 
the old rat sharply, as one of them gave a 
loud squeak. 

This squeak awoke Major from his nap, 
and hearing voices his curiosity was aroused. 

I guess I ’ll keep my ears open, and per- 
haps I shall hear something,” he said to 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


65 


himself ; “ you can’t trust these rats out of 
your sight.” 

So Major made believe asleep, and even 
gave a snore occasionally to mislead the 
rats ; and he did completely mystify them. 

Soon the two young rats returned, scam- 
pering headlong down from the mow, and 
followed more leisurely by Mrs. Silverskin, 
who had a very timid, gentle air, and who 
looked very small and refined by the side 
of the great clumsy rats with their bold 
countenances. 

Now sit still and listen with all your 
ears,” began old Gray whisker, “ for I ’ve 
something of importance to say, and our 
time is short, as that arch fiend, the bam- 
cat, may return at any moment. To cut a 
long matter short, the barn- cat has intro- 
duced another cat here. To be sure, she ’s 
half blind, and a half-grown kitten, but still 
she ’s to be dreaded. Then there ’s been a 
sparrow loafing around here lately, and 
5 


66 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


they Ve laying a plot this very minute to 
get a good-for-nothing girl here, but we ’ll 
put a stop to that. I hid under the piazza 
yesterday and heard the whole story, — how 
this girl had fed the lazy sparrow and the 
half-blind kitten (it ’s good enough for her, 
and I wish she was blind of both eyes), and 
how they must think of some way to get 
this poor child among these good people. 
They Ve talking it over now, and I Ve 
set Sharpears to watch and tell me what 
they Ve said. The barn-cat said that if they 
could arrange matters so that Posy could 
hear her story she would bring it all about. 
Posy, indeed ! I hate that child ! She makes 
a dreadful fuss over all the other animals, 
but I heard her say the other day to the 
barn-cat, ^ You must n’t catch the pretty 
little birdies, kitty, but you can catch just 
as many of the great ugly rats as you ’ve a 
mind to.’ I paid her off, though ; I stole 
her piece of cahe that she laid down on the 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


67 


door-step when she went into the house, and 
she felt awfully about it. It was real fun 
to see how disappointed she was when she 
came back and found it gone.” 

Here Mrs. Silverskin, who had sat meekly 
listening, spoke in a soft little voice, — 

I don’t believe Posy could see any 
animal suffer. I saw her sprinkle some 
crumbs down in front of a hole one day, 
and say, ‘ These are for the little mice to 
eat.’ ” 

Oh, yes ! you take her part, do you ? ” 
said old Graywhisker, fiercely glaring at 
the poor little mouse. If that is your 
opinion, you just clear out of my barn. I 
want you to understand that I won’t have 
any hypocrites around these premises.” 

“You can’t call me a hypocrite,” said the 
little mouse meekly ; “I only said that 
Posy was a kind-hearted child. I am sure 
I dislike the barn-cat as much as you do, 
and it gives me great uneasiness to think 


68 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


there another of that species on the prem- 
ises if she is half blind. I am afraid our 
children will get careless, thinking she can’t 
see them, and some day venture too near. 
I am sure I shall never have another easy 
moment ; ” and Mrs. Silverskin looked more 
anxious than ever. 

Here comes Sharpears creeping along 
this way,” called out Silvertail from the 
window. 

The whole company looked anxiously in 
the direction of their private entrance, and 
Sharpears soon appeared at the opening. 

“ Well,” said old Gray whisker impa- 
tiently, “ what did you hear I ” 

In the first place,” began Sharpears, 

Major has been complaining that we 
eat too many of his oats. He says that 
when the barn-cat ’s away we bother him 
so that he can’t take any comfort in his 
eating.” 

He eats too much,” said Gray whisker ; 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


69 


“ that ’s what ’s the matter with him. Just 
hear him snore ! He ’ll go off in a fit of 
apoplexy one of these days ! I wish he 
would ! ” 

The barn-cat said she did her best ; that 
she knew the rats and mice did take advan- 
tage of her absence, but that she was going 
to train the gray kitten to watch while she 
was away.” 

We ’ll fix that gray kitten,” snarled the 
old rat, bringing his long yellow teeth to- 
gether in a very unpleasant manner. 

“ After that they had a long talk about 
how they could bring it about to get that 
child Nancy here that had fed the spar- 
row and the gray kitten. Feeding the kit- 
ten, indeed ! as if there were not cats 
enough around already! When I came 
away they were talking about having 
the sparrow entice her here some way or 
other.” 

Why did n’t you stay and hear it out ? ” 


70 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


said the old rat savagely. “ I thought you 
had more sense.” 

“Well, all at once that disagreeable 
Polly (she ’s always minding everybody’s 
business but her own) said, ‘I do believe 
there ’s a rat under that piazza.^ I did n’t 
wait to hear any more, I can tell you, but 
slunk off just as the barn-cat jumped down 
to find out where the noise came from.” 

“ Here comes the barn-cat ! ” called out 
Silvertail from the window ; and instantly 
the whole company darted to their holes, 
as the barn-cat appeared at the head of the 
stairs. 

The barn-cat put her nose up in the air 
and sniffed. “ Those rats and mice have 
been about, sure as you live ! ” she said. 
“I must teach the gray kitten to keep a 
sharp lookout while I ’m away. Hallo ! ” 
she called to Major, “how are you getting 
on?” 

“ All right,” answered Major ; “ I ’ve im- 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 71 

portant news for you. I made believe 
asleep just now, and heard a thing or 
two. The rats know exactly what you ’re 
plotting, for tliey set a spy to listen to 
jour conversation this morning. They 
know you ’re going to try to get that 
girl here, and they ’re going to stop it if 
they can, because she fed the little gray 
^kitten.” 

I ’d like to see ’em do it,” said the 
barn-cat. 

They can annoy you, though, in a great 
many ways,” said Major; “and, to tell the 
truth, I ’m afraid they ’re going to plot 
against the gray kitten. They all seemed 
full of spite against her.” 

“I’d like to see ’em touch a hair of her 
head ! ” exclaimed the barn-cat ferociously. 

“ Here comes that dear child. Posy, with 
your breakfast,” said Major, as Posy ap- 
peared, carrying a plate and followed by 
Tom with a saucer of milk. 


72 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Here, kitty,” called Posy ; I Ve 
brought you some nice milk and some 
critters all cut up fine. Are they critters 
or fritters?” she asked, turning to Tom. 

Fritters j of course,” answered Tom. 

You do manage to get things twisted 
about. Posy. Papa says you are a real 
Mrs. Malaprop.” 

“ Kitty,” said Posy, putting her hand in 
her pocket and drawing out a little pack- 
age, “ I have brought you the beautifulest 
present you ever had in all your life ; ” and 
Posy began to undo the paper. 



CHAPTER VI. 


OSY undid the package, and took out a 



pretty collar of red leather with a little 
padlock hanging from it. 

Come, kitty, and have on your new 
collar,” said Posy. They say you ’re not 
so handsome as the house-cat, so I must 
make you look as well as I can, and you ’re 
dear if you ’re not handsome.” 

The barn-cat stood very still while Posy 
fitted on the collar and fastened the padlock. 

‘‘It^s a little bit loose for you,” said 
Posy, “but that is better than to have it 
too tight, is n’t it, Tom ? ” 

“ See how proud she feels,” said Tom ; 
“ she likes to hear the padlock rattle when 
she moves.” 


74 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ It is really a very stylish affair/' said the 
barn-cat to herself, ^^and I must smarten 
myself up a little. I wonder what the 
house-cat will say now ! " 

“ It ’s pretty loose for her/' said Tom ; 

I 'm afraid she 'll lose it off. Let ’s take 
it up another notch." 

No," said Posy decidedly ; Mamma 
said if it was too tight it would make her 
uncomf’table." 

“ Well, if she loses it, don’t bawl," an- 
swered Tom. 

I shan’t bawl," said Posy indignantly. 

The children gave a look at the kittens, 
and then went away ; and the barn-cat ate 
her breakfast contentedly, stopping occa- 
sionally to give her head a shake, that she 
might have the satisfaction of hearing the 
padlock rattle. 

That afternoon the bam-cat called the 
little gray kitten to her, and told her she 
wanted her to keep watch wliile she went 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 75 

to fulfil a very important engagement with 
Mrs. Polly and the canary. 

“ Take good care of the kittens, and don’t 
let the rats annoy Major while he is eat- 
ing. He complains a good deal of them 
lately.” 

The little gray kitten promised to do all 
she was told; and off hurried the barn- 
cat, having carefully washed herself and 
smoothed her fur as neatly as she could. 

While she was making these preparations, 
she did not see a pair of sharp little black 
eyes watching all her movements from a 
beam above. 

“ I know what all this means,” said the 
owner of the sharp black eyes, ‘^but you 
have , to get up pretty early to get the start 
of an old rat ; ” and he smiled a very vicious 
smile that displayed his long yellow teeth 
with one of them broken off. 

“ I guess I ’d better go myself,” continued 
old Gray whisker ; these young fellows 


76 SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 

are too giddy to be trusted, and after all 
we must n’t expect to find old heads on 
young shoulders ; ” and he stroked his gray 
beard with a very satisfied air. 

After the barn-cat had gone, he followed 
cautiously at a distance. He knew better 
than to trust himself under the piazza again ; 
so he wedged himself into a space between 
the house and a large stone, just around the 
corner, where he could hear without being 
detected. When he was comfortably set- 
tled, he smiled again to himself to think 
how wise he was. 

“Well,” he heard Polly say, “here we 
are again, except the sparrow, — he ’s late.” 

“ Just as likely as not we ’ll never see 
him again,” said the barn-cat. “ You can’t 
place any reliance on these tramps. I 
never did like his looks, I must confess.” 

“ I don’t believe he ’s a bad fellow at 
heart,” said the canary ; “he seemed very 
anxious to have that little girl taken care of, 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 77 

and very grateful for what she did for him. 
Bad people are not grateful, you know.’’ 

I wish he would settle down and be- 
come steady,” said Mrs. Polly, “ but I ^m 
afraid there ^s no hope of that. Yesterday 
a friend of his flying by stopped and had a 
few minutes’ chat with me. He says the 
sparrow has a wife and several children, 
but that he ’s away half the time, and neg- 
lects his family dreadfully, though he ’s 
good enough to them when he ’s at home. 
It ^s just as I suspected, — he ’s lazy and 
shiftless.” 

‘^Well, I confess, that^s just what I 
thought of him,” said the barn-cat. I never 
did fancy his looks from the first ; but he ^s 
useful to us, and we must put up with his 
failings.” 

A slight rustling in a neighboring bush 
made them all look in that direction; and 
there sat the subject of their conversation, 
and judging from the roguish twinkle in liis 


78 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


eyes, he had evidently heard the whole 
conversation. 

Sorry to have kept yon waiting,” he 
said good-naturedly, but was detained on 
very important business. Hope I see you 
as well as usual, ma’am, and that you 
have n’t missed me too much,” he said to 
the barn-cat with a sly wink. 

The bam-cat thought it more dignified 
not to answer this familiar speech, and 
looked straight before her. 

Well,” said Mrs. Polly, “ let ’s make 
the most of our time now that we are all 
together.” 

First of all,” said the barn-cat, I want 
to tell you that yesterday we were watched. 
Old Grraywhisker had set a spy to listen 
to our conversation, and he reported every 
word that was said. However, I ’d like to 
see him prevent us from carrying out our 
plans. I ’ll just give a look under the pi- 
azza before we begin ; that ’s where he was 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 79 

yesterday, and the only place where he 
could hide.’^ 

Graywhisker kept very still while the 
barn-cat investigated the piazza, and hardly 
dared breatlie ; but when she returned to 
her place again, saying, “ There ’s nobody 
there now, you may be sure of that,’^ he 
smiled again, and placing his right paw 
against his nose waggled it in a very 
exultant manner. 

“ Now,” said Mrs. Polly, “ what we have 
to do is to decide how we can get the child 
Nancy here. I have a plan of my own that 
I will mention, and I ’d like to have you 
express your opinions freely.” 

Meanwhile the sparrow, who was seated 
on a slender branch opposite the window, 
was amusing himself by standing first on 
one leg and then on the other and having a 
fine see-saw all by himself. The barn-cat 
watched him eagerly ; and his motions were 
so graceful, and he was so plump, that she 


80 


SPARKOW, THE TRAMP. 


quite forgot where she was, and sat swishing 
her tail in a very tiger-like manner, and was 
about to give a spring when Mrs. Polly’s 
keen eyes caught sight of her, and she 
called out, — 

Hallo there ! what are you about ? ” 

The barn-cat was really ashamed to have 
so forgotten herself, and was greatly em- 
barrassed. 

“ What can you expect of a cat that ’s 
been brought up in a barn ? ” said the 
house-cat scornfully. That comes of let- 
ting such common people associate with 
those who have been accustomed to good 
society ! ” 

The barn-cat was not ready as usual with 
an answer to this taunt from her enemy, for 
she knew she had been guilty of very great 
rudeness ; and Mrs. Polly, knowing that 
although her manners were rough her heart 
was a very good one, kindly went on with 
her remarks : — 


SPARROW, TEE TRAMP. 


81 


“ The plan I have thought of is this : 
You have all of you seen how often Posy 
sits on the piazza and cuts dolls' dresses out 
of bright-colored pieces of ribbon and silk. 
Now there is nothing in the world, I have 
noticed, that pleases a little girl so much as 
these bright colors, and we will take advan- 
tage of that. The next time Posy brings 
out her ribbons we must get her out of the 
way long enough for one of you to steal the 
prettiest one, and then the sparrow can use 
it to entice the child Nancy with.” 

But who is to steal the ribbon ? ” asked 
the house-cat. 

I should say the sparrow was the one 
to do that,” answered Mrs. Polly ; “ he can 
fly down and pick one out and fly off 
with it.” 

<«Very good,” said the sparrow; but 
how are you going to make Posy leave 
her ribbons long enough ? ” 

I Ve called ^em so many times lately,” 
6 


82 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


said Mrs. Polly, “ that they begin to sus- 
pect me ; and Tom said the other day that 
I had fooled him so many times that he 
should n’t come again if I called. Let me 
see — ” and Mrs. Polly j)ut on her very 
wisest expression. 

“ There ’s one way we could fix it,” said 
the sparrow. “ Here ’s my friend the barn- 
cat ; she ’s so fond of me she can’t have me 
near enough. Suppose I place myself where 
Posy can see me, and the barn-cat can make 
believe spring at me just as she did a few 
minutes ago. The dear thing ! we know she 
does it out of affection for me, but Posy 
will think she ’s in earnest.” 

“ A very good plan,” said Mrs. Polly. 

Really quite a bright idea,” she said in 
an undertone to the canary, “ though it 
would n’t do to tell him so, he ’s so well 
satisfied with himself.” 

The barn-cat had been very quiet since 
her attempt to spring at the sparrow, but 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


83 


she occasionally scratched her neck with 
her paw to make that fascinating padlock 
rattle. She did it in a very unconscious 
manner, but she knew all the time that the 
house-cat was watching her out of the cor- 
ner of her eye, and was secretly jealous of 
the beautiful collar. 

‘^That’s a very pretty collar you have 
on,” said the canary. 

“A present from Posy,” answered the 
barn-cat. 

Very becoming to your complexion. 
‘ Neat, but not gaudy,’ as the monkey said 
when they painted his tail sky-blue,” said 
the sparrow gallantly. 

Humph ! red and yellow go well to- 
gether,” sneered the house-cat. It brings 
out her charming coloring ! ” and she gave a 
taunting laugh. 

^‘Our friend always looks well to me,” 
said Mrs. Polly politely. 

Well, I guess you ’re going to be sick,” 


84 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


said the canary, laughing. ‘‘To think of 
your paying anybody a compliment ! 

Mrs. Polly was about as much astonished 
as the others at such an unusual occurrence, 
and gave a short laugh. 

“ To resume business,” she said. “Now, 
the first thing to do is for tlie sparrow to fly 
back to the place where Nancy lives and 
find out what ’s going on, and when the best 
time will be for us to carry out our project. 
I should say ’t would be well to take some 
time when she ’s out selling her matches.” 

“ 0. K.,” answered the sparrow. “ I dl 
tear myself away for a while if you think 
you can spare me long enough, my dear,” 
he said to the barn-cat. 

“ Get along with you ! ” said the bam-cat 
testily. 

“ Don’t be harsh to a fellow,” answered 
the sparrow. “You know, my dear crea- 
ture, that you ’ll count the hours till I come 
back ! ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


85 


“ Count the fiddlesticks ! ” ejaculated the 
barn-cat, trying- to look stern, but very 
much inclined to smile at the fellow’s 
impudence. 

Give me a piece of your lump of sugar 
to take to the old lady,” he said to the 
canary ; that will make it all right with 
her ; ” and he helped himself to the lump 
that was wedged in between the bars of the 
canary’s cage. Now I’m off. Ta, ta, my 
love ! ” he said to the barn-cat as he blew a 
kiss to her and was off like a shot. 



Sparrow, the Tramp. 


CHAPTEE VII 

^HE sparrow flew away, holding the 
lump of sugar tightly in his claw. 

It ’s a long time since I was at home,” 
he said to himself as he flew along ; I 
don’t dare to think how long it is. The old 
lady ’ll be pretty hard to bring ’round, I 
suspect, but she ’s a good little thing and 
will make up before long. Let me see — 
the youngsters must be ’most ready to fly 
by this time. ’T is a shame, I declare, 
to neglect my family so. Well, I guess 
I ’ll take Mrs. Polly’s advice and settle 
down.” 

He passed over a clear spring in the 
woods, and lit on the edge to drink. As he 
stooped over to reach the fresh water he 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 87 

caught sight of himself reflected in the 
smooth surface. 

Whew ! I do look rather rowdy,” he 
said. I think I’ll take a dip, — there’s 
nothing that takes with the female sex like 
a little attention to your personal appear- 
ance, and I flatter myself I ’m not a bad- 
looking fellow when I ’m spruced up. So 
here goes ! ” and carefully placing the lump 
of sugar on a stone, he ducked his head into 
the fresh, clear water, and brought it out 
dripping. 

Then he stepped in and splashed the 
water about with his wings, and ducked 
his head till his feathers were heavy with 
water. He flew into a bush and began 
pluming them carefully, and he certainly 
was not a bad-looking fellow when he had 
finished his toilet. 

When he had smoothed out all his feath- 
ers he flew down to the edge of the spring 
and looked in, and, judging from the little 


88 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


complacent nod lie gave and tlie dapper air 
with which he hopped to the stone where 
the lump of sugar lay, he was evidently 
satisfied with the picture he saw reflected. 

Now for home ! ’’ he said ; and mounting 
into the air he circled a few times over the 
spring, and then flew straight to his home, 
still holding the lump of sugar securely in 
his little claw. 

A small unpainted house stood back from 
the road. The whole place had a dilapi- 
dated look, — the gate was off the hinges ; 
most of the blinds were gone, and those that 
were left were broken or hanging by one 
hinge ; the shingles were off the roof in 
many places ; and panes of glass were gone 
from many of the windows, the holes being 
filled up with bundles of rags. 

A shed that looked as if it were ready to 
tumble down at any moment was built on to 
the back of the house ; and a large elm, the 
only pretty thing about the place, spread 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 89 

its drooping branches over the moss-grown 
roof. 

To this tree the sparrow made his way, 
and lighted on a branch before a little bird- 
house which looked as much out of repair 
as the house itself ; for it seemed ready to 
fall apart at any moment, and the bits of 
seaweed and straw and wool of which the 
nest was made, were hanging out of the 
door in a most untidy manner. In fact, 
the whole structure had an insecure appear- 
ance, as if a high wmd might topple it over 
at any moment. 

A little bright-eyed sparrow stood in the 
doorway, and three small sparrows from 
the nest inside opened their mouths wide 
and clamored expectantly for something to 
eat as the sparrow lighted beside them. 

How do you do, my darling? said the 
sparrow gayly, as he approached his little 
bright-eyed wife for a kiss. 

But instead of answering she turned her 


90 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


back towards him, and looked straight be- 
fore her with what she intended to be a 
very severe expression ; but the truth was, 
her natural expression was so good-natured 
and pleasing that she did n’t succeed so well 
as she thought she did. 

‘‘ Has n’t it one little kiss for its hus- 
band that ’s been away so long ? ” asked 
the sparrow, trying to get a view of the face 
she turned away from him. 

‘^No, it hasn’t,” answered the little wife 
shortly, without looking* at him. 

If you knew how I ’ve longed to see you 
all this time ! ” said the sparrow, with a sigh. 

“ Then why did n’t you come and see 
me. I ” said the bright-eyed sparrow, with 
what she considered a very sarcastic laugh, 
but which did n’t frighten her husband one 
bit. “ I did n’t run away. I ’ve been here 
all this time, working hard to feed these 
three children. It ’s mean of you to treat 
me so ! ” 


SPAEROW, THE TRAMP. 


91 


is, so 'tis, my dear,’’ answered her 
husband soothingly. 

Then why in the world’s name did n’t 
you come ! ” 

Business, my dear, business,” answered 
the sparrow with a very important air ; 
business before pleasure, you know.” 
likely story! As if you ever did a 
day’s work in your life 1 All my friends 
told me how ’t would be if I married you ! ” 
“ Then what made you do it, my love ? ” 
said the sparrow in a very sweet voice, 
dropping a kiss on the back of the little 
head that was turned away so persistently. 

Because I was a fool, I suppose,” an- 
swered the bright-eyed sparrow ; I don’t 
know any other reason. There was that 
other one that wanted me to have him, — 
well oif and a hard-working fellow. I don’t 
know why in the world I did n’t take him, 
instead of a vain, lazy, flirting fellow like 
you ! ” 


92 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


know, my dear, why you didn’t’’ 

“ Why, I should like to know, sir ? ” she 
said, turning her bright eyes towards him 
for an instant and then looking away again. 

“Because, my darling, you knew that, 
in spite of his good qualities that you re- 
spected, you loved a good-for-nothing, lazy 
fellow, good-looking enough,” said the spar- 
row with a conceited little air, “ but whose 
only virtue was that he cared more for one 
look from your bright eyes than for all the 
rest of the world put together ; ” and he lit 
beside her, and stretching out his neck gave 
her an affectionate kiss. 

“ Don’t ! ” said his little wife with a pout; 
“you don’t mean it, you know you don’t.” 

“ Don’t I, though ? ” answered her hus- 
band. “ Come, my dear, it is n’t becoming 
to you to be cross. Be the pretty, happy 
little thing you are, and tell your mean old 
husband that you ’re glad to see him home 
again.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


93 


The bright-eyed sparrow didn’t say she 
was glad, but she did n’t turn from him 
as he sat close to her in the doorway of 
the little house, and it was evident she 
rather liked it, or she would have moved 
away. 

“You have n^t seen the children since 
they got their new feathers,” she said. 
“You don’t know what a hard time I’ve 
had finding food for them all this time, and 
they are such big eaters ! And the house 
leaks, and sometimes it rocks so I expect 
every minute it will fall down. It was 
very unkind of you to leave me so long ! ” 
and the bright eyes were full of tears. 

“ I won’t again, my dear, ’pon my honor ! ” 
said the sparrow. “ ’T was too bad. Come, 
let ’s make up, and I ’ll show you what I ’ve 
brought you.” 

He was so good-natured, and looked so 
handsome and fresh in consequence of his 
bath, that his poor little wife could n’t resist 


94 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


him any longer, and their little bills met in 
a kiss of peace. 

“What do you think of that?’^ said the 
sparrow, holding out the lump of sugar to 
her. 

“ What is it ? ” 

“ Taste and see,” he answered, holding it 
up to her mouth. 

“ Oh, how delicious ! ” she exclaimed, 
biting off a few grains. 

“You see your husband does think of 
you when he ^s away on business,” said the 
sparrow tenderly. 

“ Let us have a bite ! ” called out the 
baby sparrows vociferously. 

So the mother bird bit off a piece for 
each one, and then promised them they 
should have the rest the next day. 

“ They don’t know their own father, the 
poor dears ! ” said the little mother. 

“It’s a shame,” answered the sparrow. 
“Hallo, young ones!” he said, whistling 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


95 


for their entertainment, “ when you Ve able 
to fly, your dad ’ll take you out for an air- 
ing occasionally.” 

“ Where did you get that nice white 
stuff?” asked the little bright-eyed sparrow. 

Then the sparrow told all about Posy 
and Tom, and the parrot and the canary, 
and the house-cat and the barn-cat, and the 
good luck of the little gray kitten, and how 
they were trying to bring about a change 
of luck for little Nancy, and how the ngly 
rats were plotting to prevent it ; and the lit- 
tle bright-eyed sparrow nestled affectionately 
against him, and listened to every word 
that he uttered with the greatest interest. 

^^How is Nancy getting on?” asked the 
sparrow as he ended his story. 

“ Poor child ! I pity her with all my 
heart,” said the bright-eyed sparrow. “ She 
never gets anything to eat but she comes 
out and sprinkles some of the crumbs under 
the tree for us, and then she throws some 


96 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


around the door-step of the old shed for 
the mice.” 

‘‘I must have a look at her,” said the 
sparrow. “ Where is she now ? do you 
know?” 

She came home about five minutes be- 
fore you did,” said the little bright-eyed 
sparrow ; and I ’m afraid she has n’t sold 
any matches to-day, she looked so sad.” 

Just then the shed-door opened, and a lit- 
tle girl appeared, and seating herself under 
the elm-tree began to sob as if her heart 
would break. 

Is Posy as big as she is ? ” whispered 
the little bright-eyed sparrow, and does 
she look anything like her ? ” 

No, indeed,” answered her husband ; 

Posy is a very little girl, and has beauti- 
ful yellow hair and red cheeks, and always 
dances about because she is so happy. We 
must do something for this poor child ! ” 

The child sat with her face buried in her 


I 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


97 


hands, sobbing ; and the sparrow noticed 
that her bare feet were cut in many places 
from walking over the sharp stones. They 
were red and swollen too. He flew down 
and perched on a bush in front of her, for 
the good-hearted fellow longed to comfort 
her. 

Dear me ! ” said the little girl, how my 
feet do ache ! ” and she took one of them 
in her hands, and rocked herself backward 
and forward with the pain. 

The sparrow gave a cheerful twitter, and 
the child looked up. 

Why, I do believe it ’s Bill}^ come 
back ! ” she cried, almost smiling through 
her tears. Why, you Te a naughty bird 
to leave your wife and babies so long ! 

Billy twittered and chirped, and tried hard 
to tell her how glad he was to see her. 

I Ve had a hard time, Billy, since you 
went away,” she said, and it ’s a comfort to 
have you back again, for it always seemed 
7 


98 


SPAEEOW, THE TEAMP. 


to me as if you understood what I told you, 
and I Ve nobody in the whole world to love 
me, Billy ; ” and the tears streamed down her 
cheeks. She ’s awful cross to me, Billy, 
and often beats me ; and when I can’t sell 
my matches she makes me go without any- 
thing to eat. A kind lady gave me a piece 
of bread to-day, and I saved some of the 
crumbs for your little wife to give her 
babies, and I ’ll give some to you, too, 
because you ’re the only friend I have be- 
sides your wife, now that the little gray 
kitten has gone ; ” and the little girl put a 
few crumbs on the ground in front of the 
sparrow. 

If I were to eat one of those crumbs I 
believe it would choke me,” he called up to 
his little wife, who was watching them as 
she softly sang her babies to sleep. 

My feet are very sore, Billy,” went on 
the child ; for, you see, I have to go very 
far to sell my matches, and I think I should 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


99 


feel stronger if I had more to eat. I some- 
times think that I can’t stand it any longer ; ” 
and the poor child began to sob again. 

The sparrow felt very sorry for her, and 
told her what her friends the animals were 
going to do for her, and how happy she 
would be when she found herself in a new 
home. If they felt so sorry for the little 
gray kitten, think how they’ll pity you, 
you poor ill-used child ! ” he said. And 
Posy and Tom will play with you, and you ’ll 
have shoes and stockings to wear, and plenty 
to eat, and a nice place to sleep in ; so don’t 
cry, little Nancy, for very good times are 
coming ! ” 

This is what the sparrow said, but the 
child did not understand the words. 

I believe you ’re trying to comfort me, 
you dear thing,” she said, “ when you sing 
so cheerfully ; and it makes me forget how 
hungry I am, and my feet don’t hurt me so 
much.” 


100 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


The sun has gone down and it ’s time to 
go to bed,’^ called out the little bright-eyed 
sparrow after the child and the sparrow had 
talked together in this manner for some 
time. I always like to have the house 
quiet by sundown.” 

Why, it ’s only just the edge of the 
evening,’’ answered the sparrow ; I guess 
I ’ll call ’round on some of my old friends. 
I ’ll be back in a few minutes.” 

I know your tricks,” said his little wife ; 
you ’ll come home by daybreak, and then 
you ’ll want to sleep till noon. ^ The early 
bird catches the worm,’ my mother used to 
say ; and true enough it is. It ’s too bad to 
have you go off so soon, when I was so glad 
to have you back again ! I Ve lots of things 
to tell you ; ” and the bright-eyed sparrow’s 
eyes filled with tears of disappointment. 

Well, don’t cry, and I ’ll stay at home,” 
said the sparrow, as he flew up to the nest ; 
and nestling close together they talked 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 101 

until their voices grew sleepy, and then 
each little head was tucked under a wing, 
and both were fast asleep. 

Then the child arose, and limping went 
slowly into the house. 



Seating herself under the tree, began to sob as if her 
heart would break .” — Page 96. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Y^HEN the sparrow awoke the next 
morning he found his little mate had 
been up some time and had given the young 
sparrows their breakfast ; so he made a 
hasty toilet, and then flew off to find some- 
thing to eat. 

He remembered just where the finest 
worms were to be found, and he ate a few 
and saved two of the largest and fattest for 
his little wife. 

Nancy was coming out of the gate as he 
flew in, and was starting out for her day’s 
work with her basket of matches on her 
arm. 

“ Good-by, dear Billy,” she said, as he 
lighted on the rickety gate and looked at 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


103 


lier. Don’t run away again, I miss you 
so dreadfully.” 

The sparrow laid the worms carefully on 
the top bar of the gate, but kept one eye on 
them for fear they would crawl away. 

“You ’ll see me back in a day or two,” 
he said with a cheerful nod of the head, 

and it ’s a pity you don’t know that your 
hard days are ’most over. Keep up cour- 
age, little Nancy, and you’ll soon be as 
happy as a queen.” 

“ That was a very cheerful little song,” 
she said. “ I see you ’re taking those great 
fat worms home to your wife. I suppose 
she ’ll like them as well as we do sausages, 
though.” 

“ Nancy,” called a sharp voice from the 
window, “ what are you loitering there 
for ? Go along, you lazy thing ! ” and at 
the words Nancy hurried away, and the 
sparrow caught up his worms and flew 
home as fast as his wings could carry him. 


104 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


How pleased tlie little bright-eyed spar- 
row was with the worms, and how lovingly 
she watched her little mate as she ate them 
and divided them^with her little ones ! It 
was so pleasant to have him back again 
after those dreary days ! 

think I’ll move you all over to the 
place I was telling you about,” said the 
sparrow. “ There are plenty of fine build- 
ing-spots there, and this old shanty is in a 
pretty bad condition. Everything is handy 
there, too, and I don’t consider this a very 
genteel neighborhood.” 

“ If we live here much longer, something 
will have to be done to the house ; it really 
is n’t safe in a high wind.” 

“Well, as soon as we get this business 
settled about Nancy, I’ll pick out a good 
situation and build,” answered the sparrow. 
“Now I ’ll be off, for there ’s no time to 
lose, as I promised Mrs. Polly I ’d be back 
in good season.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


105 


Do come again as soon as you can,” 
said the bright-eyed sparrow, blowing some 
dust off his neck ; “I shall miss you dread- 
fully.” 

You ’ll see me back just as soon as I can 
get hold of that piece of silk, — perhaps 
to-morrow. It all depends upon Posy, you 
know. Good-by, my dear; ” and he kissed 
his little wife very affectionately. “ Good- 
by, young uns ; ” and he was off again. 
As he looked back he saw the little bright- 
eyed sparrow standing in the doorway and 
looking wistfully after him, and he threw 
her a kiss before he passed out of sight. 

She ’s a dear little thing,” he said to him- 
self, “ and I know I ’m not half good enough 
for her, but I really won’t stay away so 
long again. It was n’t very comfortable at 
home then, I must confess ; the babies were 
little, and teasing for food most of the time, 
and she was so taken up with them that she 
did n’t take much notice of me.” 


106 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


With these thoughts passing through his 
little brain the sparrow sped on till he 
came in sight of the house where Posy and 
Tom lived. He flew straight to the dining- 
room window, and found Mrs. Polly and the 
canary delighted to see him back. 

“ Don’t begin your story till the barn-cat 
and the house-cat are here,” said Mrs. Polly ; 

they’ll be very anxious to hear it; ” and 
Polly gave a shrill whistle in imitation of 
the noise boys make when they whistle 
through two of their fingers. It was re- 
peated several times, until Mrs. Winton 
called from her chamber window, — 

Don’t make such a frightful noise, 
Polly ; you ’ll drive me crazy.” 

Soon the barn-cat appeared hurrying 
along, and the house-cat followed more 
slowly, for she considered a graceful and 
dignified carriage of the utmost importance. 

How are you, my dear creature ? ” said 
the sparrow to the barn-cat ; I knew you M 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


107 


pine away while I was gone. I Ve thought 
of you every minute, too, and could n’t stay 
away from you any longer.” 

Don’t make a fool of yourself,” answered 
the barn-cat crustily. 

Come, let ’s proceed to business,” said 
Mrs. Polly, her quick eye interrupting a 
very loving glance that the sparrow was be- 
stowing on the barn-cat. Wliat have you 
seen and heard about the child Nancy I ” 

I Ve both seen and heard her,” answered 
the sparrow. She confides all her troubles 
to me, but she thinks I can’t understand a 
word she tells me ; and when I Ve told her 
how sorry I am for her and what we ’re 
going to do for her, she often says, ‘ What 
a pretty little song that was, Billy ! it seems 
as if you wanted to comfort me.’ ” 

^^Well, how is she getting on?” asked 
Mrs. Polly. 

Worse than ever. She has to walk 
very far to sell her matches, to places where 


108 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

she has never been before, and her feet are 
lame and painful. We must get her away 
from there as soon as possible.” 

should n’t be surprised if Posy would 
bring out her sewing soon,’’ said the house- 
cat. heard Mrs. Winton tell her she 
did n’t like to have her run about in the 
hot sun so much, — that she had better take 
her playthings on the piazza where it was 
cool; and Posy said, M guess I’d better 
make a new dress for my dolly, for her ’s 
hardly got a dress after her name.’” 

A slight rustling was heard behind the 
bush where the sparrow was seated, and all 
quickly turned in that direction. Before 
the others knew what had happened, the 
barn-cat was down from the window and in 
the bush, and the next minute they saw her 
chasing a large rat across the yard towards 
the barn. Quickly as he ran, they saw he 
was old and gray about the ^mouth; and 
when he turned and gave a quick look back. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


109 


they saw he had long yellow teeth with one 
of them broken off. 

“ Gray whisker ! ” they all exclaimed in a 
breath. “ If she can only get him ! ” 
Quick as the barn-cat was, old Gray- 
whisker was quicker, and darted into a hole 
under the barn that was the private en- 
trance of the rats, just as the barn-cat 
reached it. She had the satisfaction of 
clawing the tip of his tail ; but it was too 
slippery for her to hold, and it slipped 
through her claws. She went back to her 
companions with rather a crestfallen air. 

“ Splendidly done, my dear creature ! ” 
said the sparrow ; you almost got him.” 

I ’ll have him yet,” said the barn-cat as 
she washed her rumpled fur; “ to think of 
his listening again to our conversation ! ” 
^^He can’t do anyL^harm, fortunately,” 
said Mrs. Polly. “All he can do is to 
sneak around and play the spy.” 

“ I sometimes fear that he may do the 


110 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


little gray kitten some mischief,” said the 
canary ; she is so small and helpless, and 
Major says he has so much spite against 
her” 

He would n’t dare to touch her,” said 
the barn-cat fiercely. I would n’t sleep a 
Tvink till I ’d paid him otf if he harmed her.” 

“ Hush ! ” twittered the s]Darrow, the 
children are coming.” 

Posy appeared, dancing along in her 
usual happy way, with the corners of her 
little white apron held up with one hand 
and in the other a small china doll. When 
she reached the piazza, she let the comers 
of the apron fall, and out rolled the con- 
tents, — bits of bright-colored ribbon and 
silk and lace. 

“ Now, my dear Miss Pompadour,” said 
Posy to the china doll, “ you sit right down 
here while your mamma makes you a beau- 
tiful ball-dress. You must be very careful 
of it, because it ’s going to be made of my 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Ill 


very bestest piece of silk ; ” and Posy held 
before the dolly’s eyes a piece of red rib- 
bon with figures of gold thread embroidered 
on it. 

That ’s gold, Miss Pompadour,” contin- 
ued Posy, — “ those bright yellow spots. I 
don’t suppose you know it, for you don’t 
know much, and what little you do know 
you don’t know for certain. And I shall 
make a pocket in it, because you ’re very 
apt to lose your handkerchiefs. I showed 
a pocket in one of your dresses to Harry 
Mason the other day, and he said, ‘ Ho ! 
that is n’t a pocket ! that ’s only a rag of a 
pocket ! ’ I told Tom about it, and he said 
Harry Mason was a very impolite boy ! ” 

A little twitter in front of her made Posy 
look up from her work, and hopping on the 
gravelled walk was a little sparrow. He 
did n’t seem to be at all afraid of her, 
and hopped about and twittered in a very 
cheerful way. 


112 SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 

Then came the barn-cat stealing softly 
towards the little sparrow. She would take 
a few steps, and then sit down and pretend 
she didn’t see him. He evidently didn’t 
see her, for instead of flying away he 
hopped about as confidently as if there were 
no such thing as a cat in the world. 

The barn-cat came nearer still, and 
crouched in the way she always did before 
she sprang, and Posy could n’t bear it any 
longer. 

“ Go away, you naughty kitty ! ” cried 
Posy, dropping her work ; and running to- 
wards the barn-cat she caught her up in 
her arms. 

You must n’t catch the dear little bird- 
ies ; I ’ve told you so a great many times,” 
said Posy, walking towards the barn with 
her. You go and stay with your babies, 
and try to catch some of the ugly old rats. 
Michael says they eat up Major’s oats, and 
he ’s going to buy a trap and catch ’em in 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


113 


it ; ” and Posy put tlie barn-cat inside the 
barn-door, and tlien went back to her 
work. 

She did n’t see a pair of small bright eyes 
shining in a hole around the corner of the 
barn, nor see the ugly face with gray whis- 
kers they belonged to ; nor did she hear 
him say with a vicious smile, “ Catch ’em in 
a trap, will he ? I guess he ’ll find out that 
it is n’t so easy to catch an old rat as he 
thinks. Look out, my dear Posy ! you may 
hear from the ugly rats in a way you don’t 
like.” 

Posy went back to her work on the 
piazza ; but the sparrow had flown away, 
and Posy hunted in vain for her little piece 
of red ribbon with the gold figures embroi- 
dered on it. 

Where has that ribbon gone I ” said 
Posy, anxiously pulling over the little heap 
of bright-colored silks. “ Dear me ! the very 
beautifulest piece I had, and I was going to 
8 


114 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


make a ball-dress for Miss Pompadour out 
of it. How disappointed lier will be ! ” 
and Posy was almost ready to cry with 
disappointment herself 

All this time the sparrow had the piece of 
red ribbon safe in his little claw, and was 
flying away with it to the old swallow’s 
nest under the eaves of the piazza where 
he had slept of late. 



Posy appeared, dancing along.” — Page i to. 


CHAPTER IX. 


^HE little sparrow went to bed early 
that night, that he might be up by 
daybreak the next morning and start on his 
expedition to Nancy before the family were 
stirring. 

Pleasant dreams of the happiness await- 
ing the forlorn child passed through his lit- 
tle brain, and he took his head from under 
his wing as the first faint streak of daylight 
appeared in the east. 

This morning he omitted his usual cheer- 
ful twitter, there was no time for that ; so 
he jumped up and looked around for the 
little piece of red ribbon with the gold fig- 
ures on it. Where was it? He was cer- 
tain he had placed it carefully in the nest. 


116 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


for it was the last thing he saw before he 
went to sleep. 

“ What in the world has become of that 
ribbon?” he said aloud. am sure I put 
it on this side of the nest, where it could n’t 
possibly blow away ; ” and he pecked apart 
the lining of the nest and peeped every- 
where in vain. 

‘‘It could n’t possibly have blown away, 
but I ’ll look everywhere ; ” and he care- 
fully examined the ground under the nest 
and the trees and bushes, — everywhere 
where it was possible for a ribbon to 
lodge. 

By this time the sun was up and Han- 
nah had come downstairs. As soon as she 
opened the dining-room window to air the 
room, the sparrow flew straight to Mrs. 
Polly, about as anxious-looking a bird as 
you would wish to see. 

“Here’s a pretty fix,” he began; “the 
ribbon ’s gone ! ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


117 


Gone ! ” exclaimed Mrs. Polly, ^^gone 
where f ” 

I wish I knew,” answered the sparrow 
shortly. 

^‘Explain yourself, please,” said Mrs. Pol- 
ly ; it ’s all Greek to me.” 

“Well, I went to bed last night in good 
season, so as to be up early this morning 
and start before anybody was stirring. 
Well, when I woke and was just going to 
start, no ribbon was to be found.” 

“ Careless fellow ! ” said Mrs. Polly, rub- 
bing her nose with vexation ; “ why could n’t 
you put it where it would be safe ? ” 

“ I did. I looked at it the last thing be- 
fore I went to sleep.” 

“ It probably blew away.” 

“ It could n’t blow away ; it was in the 
bottom of the nest, and besides I ’ve hunted 
everywhere and it ’s not to be found.” 

“ Then there ’s only one way to account 
for it,” said Mrs. Polly, with a decided nod. 


118 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


‘‘What ’sthatr^ 

“ Thieves ! ” answered Mrs. Polly shortly. 

“Whew!’’ whistled the sparrow; “then 
I suppose it’s a hopeless case.” 

“ I don’t see why,” said Mrs. Polly 
shrewdly. 

“How are we going to find them out? 
Nobody saw ’em come in the night.” 

Mrs. Polly put her head on one side with 
a very knowing look, and cleared her throat 
gravely. 

“We’ll track them,” she said. “Who- 
ever it was must have left some signs behind 
them. I am tied down here and must trust 
to you to make investigations ; but if you 
act according to my directions, I don’t doubt 
but that we ’ll get to the bottom of the mat- 
ter before long.” 

“ All right,” answered the sparrow ; “just 
say what you want done, and I ’m your 
man.” 

“ The first thing to do,” said Mrs. Polly, 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


119 


is to examine carefully the premises. 
Look on the ground for footprints, and then 
closely examine the pillar that leads up to 
the nest, to see if the thieves came that way.’’ 

Why, what other way could they come, 
pray ? ” 

They could fly, could n’t they ? ” 

The sparrow looked rather ashamed of 
his slowness of comprehension and made no 
reply ; but then he was n’t expected to be 
as shrewd as Mrs. Polly with her many 
years of experience. 

The sooner you begin the better,” said 
Mrs. Polly ; “ and come back and report to 
me when you are through.” 

The sparrow flew off and lighted on the 
ground under the nest. A flower-bed stood 
there, and he made a careful examination. 
Not a leaf was out of place that he could 
see, and not a plant disturbed in any way. 

Then he pushed the branches carefully 
aside and examined the ground. 


120 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


% Aha ! ” said the sparrow, with a satis- 
fied little nod; I begin to smell a mice. 
Somebody ’s been here, that ^s certain ; but 
whether these tracks were made by a bird 
or a chicken or — ” and he brought his 
bright little eyes nearer the ground. Yes, 
he was pretty sure now. The soft earth 
was marked by the traces of little feet, but 
so close together that he could n't make 
out the exact form ; but just beyond were 
several larger ones, and he thought he knew 
to whose feet they belonged. “I guess I 
know whose foot that shoe will fit,” he said 
to himself. 

Next he looked up towards the nest. A 
nasturtium vine was trained against the pil- 
lar, and pieces of twine formed a trellis for 
it to cling to. The sparrow ran his eye 
carefully over it. I thought so,” he said 
to himself ; ’t was he.” 

The delicate leaves of the plant were 
broken in several places, and hanging to the 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


121 


stem ; and in one place the stem itself was 
torn away from the twine as if too heavy a 
strain had been brought to bear on it. 

The sparrow had seen enough to satisfy 
himself, and flew back to Mrs. Polly. 

“ Well I ” she asked inquiringly. 

Well,” answered the sparrow, “ I guess 
I Ve as good as caught the fellow.” 

Tell me what you found, and I ’ll draw 
my own conclusions,” said Mrs. Polly, put- 
ting her head on one side with the know- 
ing expression she always assumed when 
listening to a story. 

“ In the first place, the flowers were not 
broken, not a leaf harmed. That shows that 
whoever it was, was small enough to walk 
under ’em.” 

Very good,” said Mrs. Polly, with an 
encouraging nod ; “go on.” 

“ Then I found a lot of tracks, but they 
were so close together that I could n’t make 
out what kind of animal they belonged to ; 


122 SPARKOW, THE TRAMP. 

but a little farther off I saw some bigger 
ones, and I dl be shot if they don’t belong 
to Graywhisker. Then I found the nas- 
turtium vine broken in several places, and 
it is evident the old fellow got up that way. 
I sleep pretty sound when my head ’s under 
my wing, and he might carry off the whole 
nest without waking me.” 

“You Ve done well,” said Mrs. Polly, 
with an approving smile, “ very well for an 
inexperienced hand. Now I’ll give you 
my opinion ; ” and she looked so wise, and 
was evidently so perfectly satisfied with her 
own shrewdness, that the young sparrow 
felt greatly flattered to be praised by so 
distinguished a person. 

“ You are right in concluding that Gray- 
whisker was there,” said Mrs. Polly, “ but 
you’re wrong in thinking he climbed up 
the nasturtium vine.” 

“You don’t think he did, then I ” asked 
the sparrow. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


123 


Not a bit of it,” answered Mrs. Polly 
decidedly. 

Who did, then ? ” 

“Not Gray whisker, you may depend on 
that ; he has too old a head. He laid his 
plans and superintended the affair, but you 
would n’t catch him trusting his precious 
old neck on that delicate vine. Besides, in 
case the thief were caught he would want 
to keep his own neck safe. No, indeed,” 
continued Mrs. Polly, shaking her head 
sagely ; “ not he, indeed ! ” 

“ Who did go up the vine, then ? ” asked 
the sparrow, very much impressed by Mrs. 
Polly’s wisdom. 

“ That I ’m not prepared to say,” an- 
swered Mrs. Polly, with a shrug of her 
shoulders ; perhaps he sent one of the young 
rats, but I rather incline to the opinion that 
it was a mouse ; even a young rat would 
be too heavy, and then young rats are stu- 
pid. Yes, I’m pretty sure ’twas a mouse.” 


124 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ What ’s to be done next ? ” asked the 
sparrow. 

You young fellows are always in too 
much of a hurry,” said Mrs. Polly ; we 
must wait and see what turns up next. 
‘ Murder will out/ you know ; and if we 
keep our ears and eyes open, we shall get 
some clew to the thief” 

And meanwhile that poor child Nancy 
will have to go on with her hard life. She 
said she sometimes felt as if she couldn’t 
bear it any longer,” said the spaiTOw in a 
despondent tone. 

Make the best of it, my friend,” an- 
swered Mrs. Polly. We ’ll do the best 
we can for her. In the mean time don’t 
talk about the matter ; for if Gray whisker 
finds out we suspect him, he ’ll be on his 
guard and we shan’t find a clew to the 
missing ribbon.” 

Well, I suppose the only thing to do is to 
wait patiently,” said the sparrow, with a sigh. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


125 


Before long, the barn-cat, and the house- 
cat, and the little gray kitten, and Major, all 
knew of the theft of the red ribbon with the 
gold figures on it, and they grieved sadly 
over the disappointment. They all took 
Mrs. Polly’s advice not to talk about it, and 
Graywhisker’s name was not mentioned 
among them. 

How quiet the birds are to-day ! ” 
said Tom to Posy that afternoon ; I 
have n’t heard the canary sing once to- 
day.” 

That ’s so ! ” said Mrs. Polly dryly. 

The children burst out laughing. 

^‘Do you feel sick to-day, Mrs. Polly 
asked Posy. 

Mrs. Polly gave a loud sneeze for answer. 

I guess you Ve got cold, ma’am,” said 
Posy. 

Just then Michael drove down the yard 
on his way to the depot to meet Mr. Win- 
ton ; and when the carriage was opposite the 


126 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


dining-room window, Major called out to 
Mrs. Polly, — 

I Ve got something very important to 
tell you. Send the barn- cat or the sparrow 
to my stall when I get back. You ’d better 
send the sparrow, he can get so near me I 
don’t have to holla.” 

What a loud neigh Major did give, 
Tom ! ” said Posy. “ I guess, by the way 
he looked at the dining-room window, he 
wanted a lump of sugar.” 



“ ‘ What a loud neigh Major did give, Tom ! ’ said Posy.” 
Page 126. 


CHAPTER X. 

gERENE as Mrs. Polly^s temperament 
was, and although she gave the spar- 
row such good advice, she found it very 
hard to keep patient herself until the spar- 
row appeared. 

She felt certain that the important news 
Major had to communicate related to the 
lost ribbon, and she was almost bursting 
with curiosity to know what it was. It 
would not do to call the sparrow, for old 
Graywhisker had sharper ears than he 
had ; so the only thing to be done was to 
control her impatience until the sparrow 
appeared. What if he did n’t come back 
until after the barn was closed for the 
night ? 


128 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


It was a horrible thought, and it made 
her break out into a cold perspiration, for 
he was a queer fellow and his move- 
ments could never be relied on. Just as 
likely as not he might take it into his head 
to make another visit to his family, or go off 
with some friend and not come back again 
before midnight. 

There he is,’^ whispered the canary 
suddenly ; “I can see him swinging on the 
top of that laburnum-tree. I know him by 
the way he bobs his head and twitches his 
tail." 

Mrs. Polly looked in the direction indi- 
cated by the canary; and there he was, 
swinging on a slender branch of the labur- 
num-tree as unconcernedly as if he had n't 
a care in the world. 

“Flirting with that little wren," said Mrs. 
Polly indignantly. “ It does n't look well 
for a family man. I did hope he was going 
to settle down, but I see he ’s a hopeless case.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


129 


“ He ’s good-hearted,” said the canary. 

Yes, his heart’s good enough,” answered 
Mrs. Polly ; “ but you can’t rely on him. 
There ’s no knowing what he ’ll take it into 
his head to do next.” 

Just then the spaiTOw looked in the direc- 
tion of the dining-room window ; and as Mrs. 
Polly caught his eye she beckoned to him. 
He returned the signal, hut went on say- 
ing a few last words ; and from his gallant 
manner and the coquettish air with which 
the wren listened to him, it was very evi- 
dent he would n’t have cared to have the 
little bright-eyed sparrow happen by just 
then. 

Hopeless ! ” said Mrs. Polly to herself, 
as he came flying towards her with a pleas- 
ant smile, evidently caused by his parting 
words with the wren; ^ kittle does he care 
who stole the ribbon if he can only have a 
good time ! ” and she received him rather 
crustily. 


9 


130 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Hope I have n’t kept you waiting too 
long,” said the sparrow cheerfully; did n’t 
see you till just now.” 

^^No, I observed you didn’t,” answered 
Mrs. Polly in a severe tone. 

Met my cousin the wren, and did n’t 
like to pass without speaking to her a 
minute.” 

“ Oh, indeed ! ” said Mrs. Polly dryly. 

Anything up ^ ” asked the sparrow. 

“ Yes,” answered Mrs. Polly ; ‘‘ Major 
wants you to go around to his stall after he 
comes home from the depot, — he has some- 
thing important to say, and you can get 
nearer to him than the barn-cat can.” 

‘^All right,” said the sparrow, I ’ll be 
on hand.” 

“I hope you won’t meet any more of 
your cousins said Mrs. Polly sarcastically ; 
‘‘ because you know it might interfere with 
your engagement with Major.” 

“ Don’t worry,” said the sparrow, I ’ll 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


131 


be there ; ” and off he flew and perched 
himself on one of the topmost boughs of 
the great elm that hung over the gate. 

“ Good-natured fellow,” said Mrs. Polly 
to herself, as she watched his graceful mo- 
tions, but I dofft believe he ’ll ever amount 
to anything.” 

The sparrow sat balancing himself on the 
bough of the great elm until he saw Major 
appear and until Michael had unharnessed 
him and led him into his stall. Then he 
flew in through the little window above the 
stall, and lighted on the edge of the manger 
close to Major’s face. 

We ’ve chosen a good time,” whispered 
Major, while Michael is getting my sup- 
per and spreading down my bedding for 
the night ; the rats keep out of the way 
while he is around. Come a little bit nearer, 
if you please, so that I can whisper in your 
ear.” 

The little sparrow came as near as he 


132 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


could, and Major put liis big mouth close to 
his little ear as he sat perched on the edge 
of the manger. How small he did look, to 
be sure, by the side of the great horse ; but 
he was a bright little fellow if he was 
small. 

Last night,” whispered Major, I didn’t 
sleep very well. I think I must have eaten 
too much supper. Some time in the night 
I heard voices over my head, and I can tell 
you I listened with all my ears. One of 
the voices I knew well enough, — it was 
old Graywhisker s ; and the other was so 
timid and weak I was quite sure it belonged 
to little Mrs. Silverskin, and I soon found I 
was right. They often go in and out at 
night, because they know the barn-cat is 
likely to be asleep; but I suspected from 
their whispering that some mischief was up, 
and I listened. 

^ I ’m afraid the vine will break,’ said 
Mrs. Silverskin ; ^ I don’t dare venture on it.’ 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


133 


‘ Nonsense ! ^ answered the old fellow ; 
will hold fast enough/ 

But the little mouse protested she was 
afraid, and then I heard her say, ^ I don’t like 
to steal Posy’s ribbon, she thinks so much 
of it.’ 

« <yery well, ma’am,’ said old Gray whisker ; 
‘ you just pack up and leave these premises 
before to-morrow night, or you’ll be sorry.’ 

^ Oh, don’t turn me out of doors ! ’ said 
the poor little creature ; ‘ my babies are so 
young they ’ll die if you do.’ 

“ ‘ So much the better ! ’ snarled the old 
fellow.” 

The old villain ! ” said the sparrow. 

Well, the end of the matter was that 
Mrs. Silverskin promised to do as he wished, 
provided he would not turn her out of 
doors ; and you may be sure the ribbon ’s 
safe in old Gray whisker’s hole, where it’ll 
stay in all probability, for I don’t know 
anybody bold enough to venture in after it.” 


134 


SrARROW, THE TRAMP. 


The sparrow was silent a moment, ahd 
was about to speak when Major interrupted 
him. 

“ Now you must go, for Michael is 
through, and will close up for the night 
before he leaves. Tell Mrs. Polly what 
IVe told you. Perhaps she can think of 
some way out of this scrape ; I ’m sure 
I can’t.” 

The sparrow flew off at once to acquaint 
Mrs. Polly with the news ; but for the first 
time since his acquaintance with her Mrs. 
Polly did not prove equal to the emer- 
gency She gave a deep sigh, and shook 
her head several times in a very despondent 
manner. 

“ Can’t you think of some way to get 
back that ribbon ? ” asked the sparrow. 

Posy feels so badly about it that I ’m 
sorry I did n’t take another one instead. I 
was a fool. Any other bright one would 
have done as well.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


135 


The ribbon is in Gray whisker’s hole, 
and there it will remain,” said Mrs. Polly 
gloomily. 

It seems to me,” said the canary, who 
had been listening with great interest to the 
story told by the sparrow, that it might 
be got out.” 

Pray give us the benefit of your wis- 
dom,” said Mrs. Polly in a sarcastic tone. 

To be sure, I Ve only lived in the world 
about fifty times as long as you have, 
but I ’m not too proud to learn from 
anybody.” 

Send somebody in for it when Gray- 
whisker is away from home,” answered the 
canary. 

Who, pray ? ” asked Mrs. Polly in the 
same sarcastic tone ; and she muttered some- 
thing to herself that sounded very like 
You fool ! ” 

Perhaps Mrs. Silverskin would be will- 
ing to go for it. She ’s very fond of Posy, 


136 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


you know, and the sparrow tells us that 
she objected to stealing the ribbon on that 
account.” 

Absurd ! ” exclaimed Mrs. Polly in. a 
contemptuous tone. Why, she ’s afraid 
of her own shadow ! I can assure you it 
would take a good deal of courage to ven- 
ture into any rat’s hole, let alone old Gray- 
whisker’s ! Why, where do you think 
she ’d be if he came back and found her 
there ? ” 

“ I suppose it would be a pretty danger- 
ous undertaking,” said the canary meekly. 

“ I suppose it would too ! ” sneered the 
parrot. “No, that ’s out of the question ; so 
that settles the matter.” 

“ I don’t know about that,” said the spar- 
row dryly. 

“ What do you mean ? ” asked Mrs. Polly 
sharply. “ Don’t speak in riddles.” 

“ I mean what I say,” answered the spar- 
row, boldly returning Mrs. Polly’s glance. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


137 


I said I did n’t know about tliat. I ’in not 
so sure that nobody will dare venture into 
Gray whisker’s hole.” 

“ Who will, pray I ” said Mrs. Polly. 

I will,” answered the sparrow firmly. 

I ’ll go into Gray whisker’s hole and get 
that ribbon back if it ’s there.” 

Mrs. Polly and the canary stared at the 
little sparrow in astonishment too great for 
words. 



CHAPTER XL 


“D° you know what you are saying ? ” 
said Mrs. Polly, when she had recov- 
ered from her astonishment sufficiently to 
speak. 

‘‘ I should ffit wonder if I did,” answered 
the sparrow carelessly. 

Have you considered well the danger? ” 
asked Mrs. Polly gravely. 

Oh, bother the danger ! ” exclaimed the 
sparrow impatiently. Suppose the old 
villain does come home and eat me up ? 
Well, there ’ll only be one sparrow less in 
the world.” 

“ But you ’re a family man. What will 
become of your wife and children if you are 
killed?” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


139 


My wife and children are pretty well 
used to taking care of themselves, and 
they ’ll be as well off without me as with 
me. There ’s a great advantage in the 
vagabond life I Ve led ; and being of no 
use in the world you won’t be missed, and 
that ’s a comfort ; ” and the sparrow laughed 
recklessly. 

“ Don’t talk so,” said Mrs. Polly ; you 
know you don’t mean it.” 

“ Perhaps I don’t,” said the sparrow 
carelessly. 

You ’ve got on your blue spectacles to- 
day, I guess,” said Mrs. Polly, “ and you like 
to make yourself out worse than you are.” 

“I’m sure we should miss you very 
much,” said the canary. “We have so 
little variety to our lives, shut up here in 
these cages, that it ’s very pleasant to have 
you coming and going, and bringing us 
news from the busy world. Why, we 
should never have known about little 


140 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Nancy if it had n't been for you ; and you 
are the one who is to bring her here, and 
now you are about to venture into Gray- 
whisker’s hole and find the ribbon. Why, 
you ’re the bravest fellow I know ! Don’t 
say youh’e of no use in the world when 
you can do so much ! ” 

You ’re very kind,” said the sparrow, — 
and his voice was somewhat husky, and his 
eyes looked a little moist, — to say such 
pleasant things to a fellow. I don’t think I 
ever had anybody say such pleasant things 
to me before. I declare I believe I ’ve got 
a cold coming on ; ” and the sparrow made 
a great effort to clear his throat. 

If you persist in doing this reckless 
thing — ” began Mrs. Polly. 

Ido persist,” said the sparrow decidedly. 

^^You must take the opportunity when 
Gray whisker is away from home,” con- 
tinued Mrs. Polly. ‘‘1 don’t know much 
about his habits myself, but Major can tell 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


141 


you when he is likely to he out. Then let 
the barn-cat watch at the entrance of the 
hole, and you ’re safe from him provided you 
don’t come to harm in the hole.” 

Mrs. Polly put her head on one side with 
a meditative air, and the others were silent, 
for they knew she was considering deeply 
about the matter. After a few minutes’ 
silence she spoke. 

I ’ll tell you what seems to me to be a 
good plan,” she said to the sparrow. You 
see the barn-cat and whisper to her to take 
her kittens out for an airing in front of the 
barn. Gray whisker will be sure to see 
them, and conclude that it ’s safe for him to 
leave home, for he never goes out while she 
is in the barn. You watch from a distance, 
and when he is gone you give the barn-cat 
a sign and let her leave her kittens with the 
little gray kitten while you slip into the 
hole and she sits at the entrance. Do you 
understand I ” 


142 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Yes, I understand that it wouldn’t make 
much difference to the barn-cat whether she 
ate me or Gray whisker ; on the whole, I ’m 
inclined to think she ’d give me the prefer- 
ence. No, I thank you, I ’d rather meet 
Graywhisker in the hole than have the 
barn-cat watch the entrance while I ’m in.” 

Well, I don’t know but that you ’re 
right,” answered Mrs. Polly; ^‘then we’ll 
leave it this way. You wait for an oppor- 
tunity when Graywhisker is away and the 
bam-cat too, and then you slip in and get 
the ribbon. Major will point out his hole 
to you.” 

“All right,” answered the sparrow cheer- 
fully. “I ’ll take advantage of the first 
opportunity ; ” and he flew off to the top of 
a tall pear-tree that commanded a view of 
the barn and yard. The parrot saw him 
sit quietly there for some time, his little 
head bobbing about in a very wide-awake 
manner, and then suddenly fly down and 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


143 


dart into the window above Major’s stall. 
She knew the desired opportunity had 
come, and both she and the canary felt 
great anxiety as to the result of such a 
bold undertaking. 

Just then Tom and Posy came out and 
seated themselves on the steps of the piazza 
to eat their lunch. 

Can’t you tell me a story, Tom % ” asked 
Posy ; I Ve told you ever so many nice 
ones.” 

“Well,” said Tom, “let me see — ” 

“ I ’d rather hear about animals,” said 
Posy. 

“Well then, I guess I ’ll tell you about a 
hedgehog.” 

“ Oh dear ! ” said Posy, with a disap- 
pointed air; “well, go on, Tom.” 

“Once there was a hedgehog,” began 
Tom, “ who lived in a little hole in the 
woods.” 

“What!” asked Posy quickly. 


144 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“You must n’t interrupt me, Posy,” said 
Tom. “ I said there was once a hedge- 
hog who lived in a little hole in the 
woods.” 

“ But it could nHj you know,” said Posy, 
with a perplexed expression. 

“He could and he did,” continued Tom 
decidedly ; “ and one day he started out 
for a walk — ” 

“Why, Tom,” said Posy earnestly, “how 
could a hedgehog take a walk ? A hedge- 
hog is a kind of barrel^ you know.” 

“ You mean hogshead,” said Tom ; “ what 
a little goosie you are. Posy ! But no mat- 
ter,” he continued, as Posy’s cheeks flushed 
at her mistake ; “ the hedgehog started out 
for a walk one morning, and before he ’d 
gone very far he met an old fox who lived 
in a ledge of rocks near by. ^ Good-morn- 
ing, sir,’ said Mr. Fox, ^ this is a fine morn- 
ing to be out’ — ” 

" Tom,” said Posy suddenly, “ I do believe 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


145 


the barn-cat is going to bring her kittens 
out. Do look at her ! ” 

The barn-cat sat in the doorway of the 
barn, and moved her tail gently backward 
and forward, occasionally uttering a low 
meaw ” in a very coaxing tone and looking 
behind her. Soon a little head appeared, 
and then another, and two tiger-kittens be- 
gan to play with her tail. Then the barn- 
cat stepped down from the doorway into 
the yard, and went through the same per- 
formance again. The tiger-kittens came to 
the edge of the step and looked cautiously 
over. The barn-cat pretended not to see 
them, but kept her tail gently moving. 

Then the tiger-kittens put first one paw 
over the edge of the step, and then another, 
and all at once they tumbled over into the 
yard. Then what a play tliey did have ! 
They lay on their sides and kicked against 
their mother, and then they made believe 
frightened and galloped sideways up to her, 
10 


146 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


with their backs arched and as fierce an 
expression as their mild little eyes were 
capable of producing. 

See the old cat make believe she does n’t 
see ’em, and yet she watches them out of 
the corner of her eye all the time,” said 
Tom. 

Then the barn-cat began to wash herself, 
and the kittens did the same ; but they 
did n’t do it in a very thorough manner, 
for their little paws did n’t touch their faces 
half of the time. 

Then the barn-cat took up one of her 
hind legs and washed it, and the kittens 
tried to do the same ; but they were such 
little round balls they kept losing their bal- 
ance, and tumbled over every time they 
lifted up their short hind legs. 

Soon the barn-cat went into the barn, 
leaving her kittens at play in the yard. 

“ That’s strange,” said Tom, ^‘to leave her 
kittens ; she ’s usually so careful of them.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


147 


In a few minutes tlie gray kitten came 
out and seated herself near the tiger-kittens. 

“I really believe,” said Posy, “that the 
barn-cat sent the gray kitten out to take 
care of her babies while she was out 
hunting.” 

When the bam- cat entered the barn, she 
called the gray kitten to her and told her 
she would like to have her take charge of 
the kittens while she watched for a while at 
Graywhisker’s hole, as she had n’t seen him 
leave the barn for a long time. 

The gray kitten, delighted to be of ser- 
vice to her kind friend, hurried down to the 
yard, and the barn-cat took her station be- 
side Graywhisker’s hole. Meanwhile the 
sparrow had learned from Major where 
Graywhisker^s hole was situated, and was 
already some distance in, when the barn- 
cat took her position outside. 

“ Dark as a pocket,” said the sparrow to 
himself as he cautiously groped his way. 


148 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Perhaps I shall see better when I ’m 
used to the darkness,” he said hopefully ; 
and he went on slowly, putting one foot 
carefully before the other. Suddenly he 
lost his footing and fell down several inches, 
but he landed on his feet and was not 
hurt. 

“All right,” said the sparrow, and looked 
about him. A little ray of light shone in 
through a crevice of the wall, and he was 
able to see faintly. This was evidently 
GraywhiskePs dwelling ; and the long dark 
place he went through first, the passage- 
way leading to it. As his eyes became 
accustomed to the dim light he began to 
distinguish objects. 

“ Whew ! how close ! ” said the sparrow, 
as he took a long breath. 

All the old rat’s treasures were evidently 
collected here. Crusts of bread, rinds of 
cheese, scraps of bacon, were lying around ; 
and bits of rags and twine were collected in 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


149 


a corner, and evidently served as Gray- 
whisker’s bed. 

You ’ll have to make your bed over to- 
night, my friend,” said the sparrow, rump- 
ling the bed over and scattering the rags 
all over the floor. Hallo ! what ’s this ? ” 
he said, as he came upon a smooth round 
object. 

I declare, if it is n’t a hen’s egg ! The 
old thief! I wonder how he managed to 
get it in here without breaking it 1 I guess 
I ’ll save him the trouble of breaking it ; ” 
and he pecked at it until he had made a 
hole large enough for the inside of the egg 
to run out. He gave a mischievous laugh 
as he saw the liquid oozing out, and then 
continued his search. 

Whew ! ” he said again ; ‘Gt ’s getting 
rather stifling here, I must Imny up. 
Where in the world can that ribbon be ? ” 
and he looked carefully around in every 
direction. Hooray ! ” he exclaimed, as he 


150 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


caught sight of a little piece of red silk hang- 
ing from a nail over his head. Thought 
he ’d got it hid away safely, did n’t he ? 
and in a twinkling he had hopped up and 
caught the ribbon securely in his beak. 

Now for a little fresh air,” said the 
sparrow ; I could n’t stand it much 
longer.” 

He looked around for the entrance to the 
passage-way. There were three holes just 
alike ; which was the right one ? He stood 
perplexed. “What a fool I was,” he said 
to himself, “ not to take more notice ! This 
is a pretty fix ! Well, here goes ! I ’ll try 
each one, and one of them must lead out.” 
So he hopped up to the hole nearest him 
and boldly entered. It was utterly dark, 
and he felt his way for a time in silence ; 
but the sparrow, who lived out in the pure 
air, was not accustomed to the close and 
musty atmosphere of an old rat-hole, and 
he began to feel faint and a little bewil- 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


151 


dered. What if he should n’t be able to 
find his way at all ? But he was a brave 
little fellow, and he thrust the thought aside. 
“ I will get out, I won't give up,” he said 
resolutely. This hole must lead some- 
where ; ” and he pushed bravely on. 

“ Seems to me I ’ve gone far enough to 
take me out ; I don’t understand it. My 
strength won’t hold out to go back and 
try another entrance.” He thought of the 
bright-eyed sparrow and his three little ones, 
and he deteimined to hold out, for they had 
never seemed so dear to him as they did 
now that the hope of seeing them again 
appeared so small. With a great effort he 
kept on, holding the bit of ribbon in his 
beak. Soon he turned a sharp corner, and 
with joy he beheld a ray of light in the dis- 
tance. The long dark passage led into the 
main passage-way, and he was safe. 

Just as he was about to emerge into the 
daylight a faint rustle met his quick ears, 


152 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


and with horror he beheld the barn-cat 
seated at the entrance. 

There was nothing to be done but to wait 
patiently and see what would happen next. 
The air that came in through the entrance 
of the hole relieved the dreadful faintness 
that had so oppressed him ; so he sat hold- 
ing the ribbon securely in his beak, but 
with his brave little heart beating pretty 
rapidly. 

All at once a sudden noise startled him, 
and peeping cautiously out he saw the barn- 
cat chasing Graywhisker across the barn- 
floor. Quick as a flash the sparrow was 
out and had flown in safety to the window- 
sill, when Graywhisker disappeared into a 
hole in the wall, and the barn-cat returned 
with a crestfallen air to her kittens. 



CHAPTER XII. 


^HE sparrow flew at once to acquaint 
Mrs. Polly and the canary with the 
result of his expedition. They were both 
greatly relieved to see him safely back, and 
rejoiced at his success. Then after a short 
rest and a worm or two for lunch, he flew 
merrily off to find little Nancy, carrying the 
piece of red ribbon safely in his claw. 

It was some time before he succeeded in 
finding her, with her box of matches on her 
arm, going about from house to house. 

He lighted on a fence beside her, and 
flaunted the red ribbon with the gold figures 
on it in a very enticing manner. 

^‘Why, Billy,” exclaimed the child, ^‘how 
did you get here I What a beautiful ribbon ! 


154 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


I wish you would give it to me ! It would 
make a lovely dress for that little china doll 
that has n’t got any legs and arms, that a 
little girl gave me one day.” 

Billy waited until the child was almost 
up to him, and then flew away, holding the 
red ribbon securely in his claw. 

I know you want to put it in your nest, 
Billy,” continued the child; “but any rag 
would do just as well for you, and I never 
saw such a beautiful piece of ribbon in all 
my life.” 

But Billy flew on and lighted again on a 
stone in front of little Nancy. 

The child tore off a piece of her dress, 
that was in such an untidy condition that 
the little piece of calico would not be 
missed, and approached the sparrow cau- 
tiously, saying, — 

“ I will give you this piece off my dress, 
Billy, to put in your nest, if you will give 
me that beautiful ribbon. This will do 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


155 


better for you, because it ’s bigger. Now, 
do give it to me, and I ’ll give you and your 
little mate ever so many crumbs from the 
next piece of bread I get.” 

The sparrow again waited till the child 
had almost reached him, and then flew 
away as before. 

“ Oh, dear me ! ” she exclaimed sadly ; I 
did want it so much ! ” and she turned to go 
back with a weary air. 

Then the sparrow came towards her and 
dropped the ribbon on the ground. The 
child ran to pick it up ; but just as she 
stooped to seize it, the spaiTow caught it 
up in his beak and flew off with it. 

“ I shall follow him,” said the child to 
herself, “ till I get that ribbon. I know he ’ll 
drop it again, for he ’s a very careless fellow.” 

So the two went on, the sparrow occa- 
sionally dropping the ribbon and then seiz- 
ing it again as the child was about to put 
her hand on it. 


156 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Meanwhile Posy and Tom were out in 
the yard, or rather seated on the step of 
the kitchen door, watching the barn-kittens 
playing. The gray kitten played too, but 
more gently than the tiger-kittens. 

“I’m going to bring out the house-kit- 
tens,’^ said Posy ; “ they ought to have a 
good time too.” 

The house-cat was lying in the box be- 
side her kittens when Posy came for them. 

“I’m going to let your kitties play with 
the barn-kitties,” said Posy in explanation 
to the house-cat, who looked rather startled 
at such a sudden interruption ; “ they ought 
to be out in the fresh air instead of sleeping 
in this hot kitchen. You need n’t meaw so, 
for I shan’t Imrt them.” 

What the house-cat said was this, — 

“I don’t want my kittens playing with 
those rough barn-kittens ; it will spoil their 
manners.” But Posy did n’t understand her ; 
and it would n’t have made any difference 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


157 


if she had, for she was very fond of the 
barn-cat and approved highly of the way 
she brought up her family. So Posy car- 
ried out the kittens, followed closely by the 
house-cat. 

Posy put the kittens on the ground beside 
the little tiger-kittens, and then went back 
to her seat on the door-step beside Tom to 
watch them play. 

The little tiger-kittens stood still a min- 
ute and watched the new-comers curiously. 
Then they flew at each other, and clawed 
each other, and rolled over together. The 
barn-cat looked on, very proud of her chil- 
dren’s strength; but the house-cat had a 
very scornful expression on her counte- 
nance, as she scowled at the little tiger- 
kittens. 

Come back at once ! ” she called to 
her little Maltese kittens. “ I don’t wish 
you to associate with those common barn- 
kittens.” 


158 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Oh, do let US stay ; it ’s such fun ! ” they 
answered piteously. 

“ Let ’em have a little frolic ; it ’ll do ’em 
good,” said the barn-cat. They ’ll get sick 
lying in that hot kitchen.” 

I ’m very particular about their man- 
ners,” said the house-cat ; I don’t want 
them to learn common ways.” 

My kittens won’t teach ’em anything to 
hurt their manners,” answered the barn- 
cat ; “let ’em stay and have a good time. 
Come, my dears,” she said to the little Mal- 
tese kittens in a motherly tone, “ you play 
just as much as you want to.” 

The house- cat looked anxiously around. 
None of her stylish acquaintances were in 
sight, and it did seem a pity to cheat her 
darlings out of a romp in this fresh air ; so 
she did n’t say they should nH stay, and the 
kittens interpreted her silence as a consent. 
So they grew very cheerful, and watched 
the tiger-kittens chase each other and claw 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 159 

and roll over, till at last they became bold, 
and one of them went up to one of the tiger- 
kittens and gave him a gentle tap with his 
paw, exactly as Posy often did to Tom 
when she called out “Tag!” 

Then the tiger-kitten turned and chased 
him, and how the little Maltese kitten did 
run I He dodged almost as well as the 
tiger-kittens did, and the tiger-kitten had to 
try with all his might till he caught tlie 
Maltese kitten, and then they both rolled 
over together and kicked and clawed, just 
as if the Maltese kitten had played “ tag ’’ 
every day of his life. 

“Very well indeed, my dear!” said the 
barn-cat, with an approving nod; ^^try it 
once more, and you need n’t be afraid to 
put out your claws a little farther. My 
kittens don’t mind a few scratches, I can 
tell you; and look here, my dear, when 
you run up to them, crouch a little, this 
way, and wriggle your body before you 


160 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

spring, and don’t be afraid of hurting them 
when you knock them over. Try it again, 
my dear ; you ’ll do it better next time.” 

The little Maltese kitten did try it again, 
and succeeded so well that the house-cat, 
although she tried not to look interested, 
could n’t resist a smile of pride. Then the 
other Maltese kitten tried it, and did it so 
well that the barn-cat praised her for it. 
Now, my dears,” said the barn-cat, 
’m going to teach you how to catch 
mice.” 

She looked around and picked out a little 
green apple that would roll easily. 

Now play that was a mouse sitting 
still; show me how you would catch it. 
You begin first,” she said to one of her kit- 
tens, “ because you ’ve already had a lesson 
in it.” 

So the tiger-kitten crept cautiously to- 
wards the apple, swishing her little tail the 
way her mother had taught her ; and when 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


161 


she came within the proper distance she 
stopped and wriggled her body from side to 
side, and then gave a great spring and 
seized the apple with her little front paws ; 
but the tiger-kitten was so excited from 
playing tag,” that she forgot she was play- 
ing mouse,” and batted the apple with her 
little paws and set it rolling, and then chased 
it and caught it, and lay on her back and 
clawed it with all her four paws. 

“ I ^m ashamed of you,” said the barn-cat 
severely ; now put it down and do it over 
again properly; and mind, no fooling this 
time ! ” 

So the little tiger-kitten did it over again, 
and really did it very well ; and then the 
Maltese kittens tried it, and the barn-cat 
was very much pleased with them. Now,” 
said the barn-cat, “ we ’ll make believe 
’t is a mouse running. See how well you 
can do that ! ” and she gave the apple a 
push with her paw, and all the four kittens 
11 


162 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


set off at once after it, and rolled over 
one another and clawed and kicked just as 
they had done when they played tag.” 

The barn-cat ‘COuld n’t help smiling to 
herself, but she took care that the kittens 
didn’t see her smile, and then she made 
each one do it alone, and gave them very 
good advice about hiding behind corners 
and then suddenly springing out. 

The children had been watching this play 
with the greatest interest, and often laughed 
aloud, when all at once Posy exclaimed, — 

“ Why, there is a little girl without any 
shoes and stockings on, and her ’s got a 
basket on her arm. What do you suppose 
her wants, Tom ? ” 

The little barefooted girl was Nancy, 
whom the sparrow had succeeded in entic- 
ing by means of the red ribbon with gold 
figures on it. She had stood watching the 
kittens play for some minutes before Posy 
saw her. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


163 


She ^s got sometliing to sell, I guess,” 
said Tom. 

Just then Hannah came to the door, 
and the children told her about the little 
girl. 

Go away ! ” said Hannah ; we don’t 
want to buy anything.” 

The child came a step nearer and said 
timidly, — 

Will you please to buy some matches, 
ma’am ” 

No,” said Hannah shortly ; we don’t 
want any pedlers ’round here.” 

The child sighed and turned away. 

Hannah,” said Posy, with her cheeks 
very red, “that’s a poor little girl, and 
Mamma always buys things of poor little 
girls.” 

“ Your mamma ’s got plenty of matches,” 
said Hannah in the same cross tone. “ She 
wants a chance to steal something ; that ’s 
what she wants.” 


164 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


You ’re a very unkind girl, Hannah,” 
said Posy angrily. “ I know Mamma will 
buy some matches ; won’t her, Tom ? ” 
Yes,” said Tom decidedly. “ She tells 
us to be good to poor people ; and this little 
girl hasn’t got any shoes and stockings, 
and her feet look awful sore.” 

Mamma ! ” screamed Posy, running un- 
der the window of Mamma’s room. 

What is it, dear!” asked Mamma, com- 
ing to the window. 

‘‘ There ’s a awful poor little girl here. 
Mamma,” said Posy eagerly; ^‘and her 
has n’t got any shoes and stockings, and her 
has matches to sell. Do buy some. Mamma ; 
her looks so tired and sad ; ” and Posy was 
very near crying. 

“ Tell her to wait a minute,” said Mamma, 
and I ’ll come down.” 

So Posy and Tom ran after the little 
girl and brought her back just as Mamma 
appeared at the kitchen door. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


165 


Come in, little girl,” said Mamma 
kindly, and sit down. You look tired.” 

The child did indeed look tired, and 
seated herself wearily ; but the instant she 
touched the chair her head fell forward on 
her breast, and she would have fallen to 
the floor if Hannah had not caught her in 
time. 

Bring her into the dining-room where 
it is cool,” said Mrs. Winton, “ and lay her 
on the sofa.” 

So Hannah, whose heart was a good deal 
kinder than her tongue, picked up the for- 
lorn child and gently placed her on the sofa 
in the cool dining-room. 



“ So Posy and Tom ran after the little girl and brought 
her back.” — Page 164. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

' I ''OM and Posy watched little Nancy 
with distressed countenances as she 
lay on the lounge so still and white. 

Don’t be frightened,” said Mrs. Winton, 
as she caught sight of their faces, that were 
almost as pale as the little match -girl’s ; 
“ she has only fainted and will be well 
again in a few minutes.” 

So Mrs. Winton bathed the child’s fore- 
head with cold water, and Hannah fanned 
her with a palm-leaf fan. 

Tom,” said Mamma, I wish you would 
bring me a pitcher of cold water fresh from 
the pump.” But there was no answer, and 
Mamma looked around. Both of the chil- 
dren were gone. Just as the little match- 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


167 


girl opened her eyes Tom appeared carry- 
ing a pillow, and Posy brought up the rear 
with a bottle of cologne in one hand and all 
the playthings she could carry under the 
otlier arm. 

thought the little girl would like to 
have my pillow under her head,” said Tom, 
handing it to Mamma. 

It was very thoughtful,” answered 
Mamma. 

And Posy brought the bottle of German 
cologne she got on her birthday,” added 
Tom, as Posy stood shyly behind him ; 
“ she ’s been keeping it for you when you 
have a headache, but she says she wants 
the little girl to have it because she did n’t 
believe she ever had any nice German 
cologne before.” 

Posy felt paid for the little sacrifice she 
had made when Mamma smiled at her. 
Meanwhile Nancy was sitting up, looking 
around her with a bewildered air. 


168 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


She j)Pobably ate something that hurt 
her,” said Hannah ; “ there ’s no telling what 
these kind of people eat. A good dose of 
thoroughwort would fetch her out of this.” 

What did you have for your breakfast, 
my dear ? asked Mrs. Winton kindly. 

“ I didn’t have any breakfast,” answered 
the child. 

“ What did you eat for your supper last 
night ? ” asked Mrs. Winton. 

“ I didn’t have any supper, either,” said 
the little match-girl. 

How happened it, my child ? ” asked 
Mrs. Winton, with a serious face. 

“ I could n’t sell any matches, so she 
did n’t give me anything to eat. She said 
I didn’t earn my salt.” 

“ Who is she f ” 

“ The woman where I live,” answered the 
child. 

“ Is she your relative % ” asked Mrs. 
Winton. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


169 


“ I don’t know,” answered the child. 

Hannah,” said Mrs. Winton, bring me 
a bowl of bread and milk. It is as I sus- 
pected ; the child is half starved.” 

Posy came around to Mamma’s side, and 
leaned against her in what Hannah called 

Posy’s coaxing way.” 

Don’t send her back to that horrid 
woman, will you, Mamma I ” she whis- 
pered. 

“ I will look after her, my darling, you 
may be sure,” said Mamma. 

But 3^011 ivill let her stay, won’t you, 
Mamma I ” repeated Posy. 

“I will let her stay till she feels well 
again, and then I will find out about her,” 
answered Mamma soothingly. “ Don’t be 
troubled. Posy ; I love my own little chil- 
dren too well not to try to make all other 
children happy.” 

Posy looked greatly relieved. 

Tom had been silently watching the little 


170 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


match-girl, and listening eagerly to what 
Mamma said to Posy. He put his hand in 
his pocket and pulled out his new top and 
looked lovingly at it. 

She can have my new top if she wants 
it,” he said to Mamma. 

I am glad you thought of it, my dear, 
but I don’t think little girls care much for 
tops,” said Mamma. 

An expression of relief came over Tom’s 
face ; for the new top was very dear to him, 
and he had saved the money for it, cent by 
cent. 

Do you think she would like to have 
Miss Pompadour ? ” asked Posy. 

We will see that she has playthings,” 
said Mamma; but first of all she needs 
food, and here comes Hannah with the 
bread and milk.” 

The poor child ate greedily, the children 
looking on with intense satisfaction. 

That afternoon Major was harnessed to 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


171 


tlie carryall ; and Mr. Winton, with Tom and 
Posy, and little Nancy for a guide, set out 
for Nancy’s old home. A ride was an un- 
known and undreamed-of treat to the neg- 
lected child, and the kindness with which 
slie was received almost overpowered her. 

Although Nancy had lived such a joyless 
life, her powers of observation were unusu- 
ally acute ; and the stories she related to 
Posy, who sat beside her on the back seat, 
were so very novel and interesting that 
Tom forgot to ask to drive, and listened as 
intently as Posy did. She told them about 
Billy, and the bright-eyed sparrow, and the 
baby sparrows, and the little blind gray 
kitten ; and in this way the time passed so 
very quickly that they reached their desti- 
nation before the children had heard half 
enough. 

Mr. Winton went into the house and left 
the children in the carriage. 

Nancy pointed out the little house where 


172 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


the bright-eyed sparrow lived ; and there 
she was at the door of the house. 

“ She ^s going to teach the young birds 
how to fly,” said Nancy; and the children 
watched with great interest. 

First the mother bird hopped down to the 
branch below, and the little sparrows came 
to the door of the house and looked down. 
Their mother gave a little call, but they only 
stretched their necks farther out and looked 
timidly down, as if the distance seemed to 
them very great. The mother bird called 
again, louder and more decidedly. Then 
they fluttered their little wings and hopped 
up and down, but dared not venture out of 
their nest. The mother bird, evidently 
thinking that a little discipline was required, 
hopped back and gave each one a little 
peck, and actually drove them out of the 
nest. Then she showed them how to fly. 
She flew around in short circles, and then 
back again. Soon one of the little sparrows 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


173 


grew bold, and flew a very little way and 
then came back ; but he seemed very proud 
of what he had done and tried it over 
again many times. Then, encouraged by 
his example, the other two ventured out ; 
and they too grew quite brave, and flew 
better every time they tried. 

By this time the door of the house 
opened, and Mr. Winton appeared, followed 
by a woman, at sight of whom little Nancy 
shrank back in the carriage and looked 
frightened. 

Don't be afraid," said Tom ; if she 
comes here I ’ll give her a good hit and 
send her off howling.” 

No, indeed,” said Posy; w^e shan't let 
her touch you.” 

“ If you take the child you take her for 
good and all. I ain’t a going to take her 
back when you 've got sick of your bar- 
gain,” they heard the woman say, as she 
held the door open with one hand. 


174 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

“ I take her for good and all,” answered 
Mr. Winton, as lie turned from the door and 
came towards the carriage. 

Nancy,” he said, when they had driven 
a few minutes in silence, how should you 
like to stay with us ? ” 

Oh ! ” cried Posy, clapping her hands 
and jumping up and down with joy, I 
thought it would end so, you dear, good, 
kind Papa ! ” and Posy threw her aims 
around Papa’s neck, and hugged him till 
slie knocked off his hat and nearly fell out 
of the carriage herself. 

I should like it very much indeed,” said 
Nancy, with a gleam of happiness in her 
dark eyes. 

So little Nancy went to her new home, 
and a cot-bed was put in Hannah’s room 
for her. 

Hannah ’s awful cross,” said Tom to 
Nancy. 

“ But her ’s good, Tom,” said Posy. 


SPAEROW, THE TRAMP. 


175 


^ Her bark worse than her bite/ Papa 
says.” 

Meanwhile old Graywhisker was almost 
beside himself with rage at the overthrow 
of his hopes. When he escaped from the 
barn-cat, he disappeared down the private 
entrance to the barn and remained there 
quietly until he was sure the barn-cat was 
out of the way. Then he crept cautiously 
out and ran to his own hole. 

When he emerged from the long, dark 
passage-way into his living-room, imagine 
the confusion that met his eyes ! His bed 
torn to pieces and scattered all around, and 
his precious hen's egg that he had trans- 
ported with so much care and difficulty, 
broken ! He gave a quick glance up at 
the nail where he had hung the red rib-i 
bon with the gold figures on it. It was 
empty. 

“ Gone ! he shrieked. “ Stolen ! but 
I dl be revenged ! This will be the dearest 


176 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


piece of mischief you ever did, my dear 
barn-cat ! I’d give a good deal to know 
who was the cat’s paw this time ; ” and his 
shrewd old eyes peered keenly about for 
some traces left by the thief. Aha ! ” he 
said, with an ugly grin that showed the 
broken tooth in front; and he sat on his 
haunches and held up a little gray feather. 
“ It was you, was it, my dear little cock- 
sparrow? The barn-cat sent you in, did 
she, to get the chestnuts out of the fire for 
her? I wonder, my dear friends, if before 
very long you ’ll wish you had left the 
little ribbon alone ! The old rat will be 
one too many for you, my dear creatures, I 
am afraid ! ” 

In this way Graywhisker gave vent to his 
rage and disappointment, and sat a long 
time considering how to take his revenge. 
Then he decided to hold a midnight meet- 
ing in his house, where there was no dan- 
ger of being disturbed ; and the meeting 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


177 


was very fully attended, and the result kept 
strictly private. 

The next afternoon the little gray kitten 
was seated in front of the barn washing lier- 
self, when her attention was attracted by a 
little mouse that ran in front of her. The 
gray kitten could not see very well, and slie 
seldom succeeded in catching anything ; but 
this little mouse ran so very near that she 
could n’t help seeing it, and she quickly ran 
after it. 

The mouse ran into the barn and up the 
stairs, followed very closely by the gray 
kitten, and then disappeared into a large 
hole under the mow. The gray kitten was 
not very large herself, and the hole was so 
big that she followed the little mouse in. 
There was a much smaller hole at the other 
end ; and out of that the mouse ran, but it 
was too small for the gray kitten to follow 
and she turned to go back. What was her 
surprise and terror to find the entrance 
12 


178 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

closed up with a pile of hay, and that she 
was a prisoner ! 

I understand now,” said the poor little 
gray kitten to herself, “ why that mouse ran 
so near me. It was done to get me into 
this trap, and that Gray whisker was at the 
bottom of it.” 



CHAPTER XIV. 


^^REAT was the excitement among the 
animals when they learned that the 
little gray kitten was missing. 

She never in this world went off of 
her own accord,” said the barn-cat to Mrs. 
Polly ; she always stayed at home and 
took care of my kittens while I was out 
hunting. Something has happened to her. 
We shall never see the dear little thing 
again, you may be sure ; ” and the barn-cat 
gave a deep sigh. 

“Don’t be so discouraged,” said the 
canary hopefully ; “all of our plans have 
gone well so far, and I know this will. 
It’s always darkest before daylight, you 
know.” 


180 SPARROW, THE TRAMP, 

What do you propose to do about it, 
pray I ” asked the barn-cat in an irritable 
tone. It ’s all very well to say ‘ Don’t be 
discouraged,’ but what is to be done ? Sit- 
ting here and talking about it won’t bring 
the gray kitten back. Come, let ’s have 
your ideas on the subject. I ’m not too old 
to learn, if I have brought up half a dozen 
families.” 

don’t pretend to know myself the best 
course to pursue,” answered the canary 
good-naturedly, “ and I should n’t presume 
to dictate to you who have had so much 
more experience than I have. I only meant 
to say that Mrs. Polly, who has the wisest 
head of any of us, could probably advise us 
what to do.” 

Mrs. Polly gave a satisfied “Ahem ! ” for 
it always put her in a good humor to be 
looked up to. 

“ That ’s a good idea,” said the barn- 
cat, appeased by the canary’s good-nature. 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


181 


Come, Mrs. Polly, I hope you will give 
us your views on the subject ; I know you 
have been thinking it over.” 

Well,” said Mrs. Polly in an impressive 
manner, “ I have been considering the case, 
and have come to the conclusion that the 
only way to accomplish anything is to in- 
vestigate the case in a thorough manner. 
Call the animals together, and I will inter- 
view them, and discover, if possible, if they 
can throw any light on this painful affair.” 

“ Capital ! ” exclaimed the barn-cat, “ I 
will attend to it at once. If you Ve no ob- 
jection, ma’am, I should like to bring my 
kittens ; they are old enough to begin to 
learn how such matters are conducted, and 
I like to have them get all the information 
they can.” 

“ Very sensible indeed,” answered Mrs. 
Polly ; bring them by all means, and tell 
the house-cat to bring hers. Please notify 
the sparrow also of the meeting; and as 


182 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Major can’t be present you will have to 
take his affidavit. That is/’ explained Mrs. 
Polly, seeing a puzzled look on the barn- 
cat’s ffice, “he must tell you what he knows 
about the matter, and you can report it 
to me.” 

“ That ’s very easy,” answered the barn- 
cat. “ Finding the sparrow won’t be quite 
so easy. He ’s never around when he ’s 
wanted.” 

“Yes, he is, my darling,” answered a 
voice from the flowering currant; “ he can’t 
tear himself away from you long ; ” and 
there sat the sparrow, swinging on a slen- 
der branch, and looking as impudent and 
careless as ever. 

“Well, you are here when you ’re wanted 
for once in your life,” said the barn-cat. 
“ See if you can keep still in one place till 
we ’re ready for the meeting ; ” and off went 
the barn-cat on her errand. 

In a short time the house-cat appeared 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


183 


with her kittens nicely washed, and looking 
as pretty and fresh as possible, and soon 
after the barn-cat appeared with her kittens. 
She had had time to wash them carefully, 
as Major was out and she could not have 
the desired interview with him. Their little 
tiger-skins were glossy, and they looked 
as if it were hard work for them to walk 
sedately behind their mother. 

The house-cat was seated with her kit- 
tens beside her, and the barn-cat took up 
her position at a distance and placed her 
kittens where she could keep an eye on 
them. While she was making their toilets 
she had given them so many instructions 
in regard to their behavior, that they pre- 
sented a very demure appearance, although 
their little bright eyes danced about in such 
a very animated w^ay that it seemed prob- 
able that it would n’t be a very difficult task 
to make them forget their dignity. 

Mrs. Polly looked as wise as half a dozen 


184 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


judges put together, wigs and all. She 
looked silently around on the little group 
collected about her and then gave a little 
cough, as was usual when she had some- 
thing of importance to say. 

I suppose you all understand why this 
meeting was called,'’ she began. The 
little gray kitten, of whom we are all so 
fond, is missing, and we are trying to dis- 
cover some traces of her. Now, to proceed 
in a systematic manner, the first point to 
find out is, who saw her last, and where ^ ” 
There was a moment's silence, and then 
one of the little house-kittens said, — 

I think old Gray whisker has eaten the 
gray kitten up.” 

What makes you think so ? ” asked Mrs. 
Polly quickly. 

“ Because he 's got such long, sharp teeth. 
My mother says he 'd eat me up quicker 
than a wink if lie caught me,” answered the 
house-kitten. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


185 


When did yon see the gray kitten last, 
iny dear ! ” asked Mrs. Polly. 

Not for a very long time,” replied the 
little house-kitten. “ My mother says she ’s 
common, and does n’t like to have us play 
with her.” 

“ Then, if you Ve no information to give 
on the subject,” said Mrs. Polly severely, 
“ don’t give it. You must learn to be seen 
and not heard.” 

The little house-kitten was somewhat 
abashed at this reproof ; but her embar- 
rassment did not last long, for her sister, 
the other house-kitten, who was tired of 
sitting still so long, moved her tail back- 
ward and forward in such a very enticing 
manner that she could n’t resist the tempta- 
tion of springing at it and clawing it. 

The house-cat was rather ashamed of her 
want of discipline, particularly as the barn- 
kittens sat all this time in a dignified man- 
ner, with their small tails straight out behind 


186 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

them ; and more especially as the barn- 
cafs face wore a very self-satisfied smile, 
as if she were enjoying the house-cafs 
discomfiture. 

“ If you don’t sit still I shall take you 
home at once,” she said to the house-kittens 
when she had restored order and placed 
them where she could reach them in case 
of a second disturbance. 

Now that order is restored,” said Mrs. 
Polly, “ we will proceed to business. When 
did you see the gray kitten last ? ” she asked 
the spaiTow. 

“ I have n’t seen her for the last two 
days,” answered the sparrow. She is n’t 
so attached to me as my friend the barn-cat 
here, and does n’t follow me up so closely.” 

“Don’t joke at such a serious moment,” 
said the barn-cat crossly. 

“ It ’s as easy to laugh as to cry,” an- 
swered the sparrow, “ and a good deal 
pleasanter.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


187 


“ Our friend the sparrow did us such a 
good turn in recovering the stolen ribbon,” 
said Mrs. Polly, “ that we must n’t be too 
hard on his peculiarities. We all know 
that if his manner is sometimes frivolous, 
he has proved to us that he has a warm 
heart and is devoted to our service.” 

“ His heart ’s warm enough and he is 
brave enough too,” said the barn-cat, who 
had a strong sense of justice ; “ but I 

do wish he was a little steadier in his 
ways.” 

‘‘We must take people as we find them,” 
answered Mrs. Polly. “Now, Mrs. Barn- 
cat, when did you see the gray kitten 
last!” 

“ I left her yesterday afternoon to watch 
my kittens while I was out, and when I 
came back she was gone. Tliat ’s all I 
know about it.” 

The little tiger-kittens had listened to 
every word that had been said, and had a 


188 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


very important air, as if they could tell 
something if they were asked. Mrs. Polly’s 
keen eyes noticed this, and she said to one 
of them, — 

Now, my dear, I want you to tell me 
just what happened while your mother was 
away yesterday afternoon. Don’t be afraid 
to speak out.” 

The kitten evidently was not afraid to 
speak out, and began in a clear voice, — 

‘‘We had a fine play, and the gray kitten 
could n’t catch us because we dodged so. 
We caught her every time.” 

“What’s that to do with the subject, I 
should like to know % ” asked the house-cat 
severely, for she remembered how her kit- 
ten had been snubbed ; “ and anybody 
could see with half an eye that my kitten 
is much smarter than that stupid-looking 
thing,” she added to herself. 

“ Please don’t confuse the witness,” said 
Mrs. Polly to the house-cat. “ Very 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


189 


well, my dear,” she continued, turning 
to the little tiger-kitten ; “ what happened 
next ? ” 

We played till we got tired, and that ’s 
all,” answered the little tiger-kitten. 

‘‘I thought so,” exclaimed the house-cat 
triumphant!}^. 

Mrs. Polly scowled fiercely at her, 
and then turned to the little tiger-kitten 
again. 

Well, my dear, and what happened after 
you became tired of playing ? ” 

“ Well,” replied the little kitten, as she 
kept her eye on one of the house-kittens 
who was rolling a pebble with her soft paw, 
then a little mouse ran by.” 

“ Oh ! ” said Mrs. Polly ; “ and what then, 
my dear I What did you do when the little 
mouse ran by % ” 

“We wanted to catch it, but the gray kit- 
ten would n’t let us. She said our mother 
told her not to let us go away.” 


190 


SPAEROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ And wliat did the gray kitten do then I” 
asked Mrs. Polly quickly. 

“ She ran after the little mouse and she 
did n’t come back again, and that ’s all,” 
said the little tiger-kitten. 

‘‘Very good indeed, my dear,” answered 
Mrs. Polly, with an approving nod of her 
head. “You Ve told a very connected 
story, and we ’ve found out that the gray 
kitten chased a mouse and has not been 
seen since ” 

The barn-cat was intensely gratified at 
her kitten’s sagacity, but the only expres- 
sion she gave to her satisfaction was to 
wash the little tiger-kitten’s face affection- 
ately. Then she said, after a few moments’ 
silence, — 

“ Before we break up, I should like to 
mention that the collar that Posy gave me 
has disappeared. It was quite loose for 
me, and I may have lost it when I was 
off hunting. I don’t like to accuse any- 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


191 


body wrongly, but it was a very band- 
some affair, and I dare say created a 
good deal of jealousy among my acquaint- 
ances ; ” and she looked very hard at the 
house-cat. 

If you mean me,” said the house-cat, 
with a toss of her head, “let me tell you 
that I have n’t stolen your old collar. I 
don’t need collars to make me look respec- 
table, thank goodness ! ” 

“Very true,” ans.wered the barn-cat; “it 
would take more than collars to make some 
people look respectable.” 

“ Oh, come, come,” said Mrs. Polly, 
“ don’t get personal ! I have no doubt that 
old Graywhisker knows where that collar 
is, just as well as he knows where the gray 
kitten is.” 

“ You don’t mean it ! ” exclaimed the 
sparrow. 

“ Yes, I do,” said Mrs. Polly decidedly. 
“ I believe that Graywhisker sent that 


192 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


mouse to entice the half-blind gray kitten, 
and that he ’s got her safely hidden some- 
where, for he would n’t dare really to let 
her come to any harm.” 

“ How can we find her ? ” asked the barn- 
cat. <2*^ 

“ All of you keep your ears oj^en and 
perhaps you ’ll pick up some news. If we 
find out where she is, the children can prob- 
ably rescue her. They ’ll soon notice that 
she is missing and hunt for her.” 



The Barn Cat and her Kittens. 


CHAPTER XV. 

’re going to play ‘ circus ’ in the 
bam this afternoon/' said Posy at 
dinner, and we ’re going to have the 
kittens for the animals.” 

Nancy plays circus first-class/' said 
Tom ; she is n’t such a scare-cat as most 
girls are." 

Where did she learn anything about the 
circus ? ” asked Papa. I don’t believe she 
ever saw anything but the tents." 

^^Yes,” answered Posy eagerly; “her 
says when the circus was here once her 
skun the fence and peeked through a hole 
under the tent and her saw the horses' 
feet.” 

“ Poor child ! ” said Papa, “ the next time 
13 


194 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


the circus comes she shan’t ^ skin ’ the fence, 
but shall go with you and see the whole 
performance.” 

“Hannah,” said Posy after dinner, “have 
you seen anything of the barn-cat’s collar ? 
Her has lost it.” 

“ No,” answered Hannah, “ I have n’t 
seen it, and what ’s more I don’t expect 
to. I guess it won’t be the last thing that 
you ’ll find missing. You ’d better look 
after your things a little sharper, for I don’t 
trust that Nancy too fur.” 

“ Nancy is a good little girl, Hannah. 
Her does n’t steal. It ’s very mean to say 
such things,” said Posy angrily. 

“Well, it won’t do no harm to keep your 
things locked up,” replied Hannah. 

Nancy came in from the barn, where she 
had been to feed the kittens. 

“ I can’t find the gray kitten anywhere,” 
she said, looking very much distressed. " I ’ve 
hunted and called, but she does n’t answer.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


195 


Perhaps the rats have carried her 
said Posy, with a troubled air. 

I guess she ’s gone to hunt for mice,’^ 
suggested Tom, who appeared at that mo- 
ment. She won’t run off. Let ’s go and 
play ^ circus ’ in the barn-chamber. You 
bring the house-kittens, Posy, and I ’ll get 
the barn-kittens.” 

You need n’t mew so loud,” said Posy 
to the house-cat as she took up the kittens. 

I won’t hurt your babies*, and I ’ll bring 
’em back all safe. They are going to be 
teached to play circus.” 

The house-cat was not at all afraid to 
trust her kittens with Posy. What she said 
was : I don’t like this way of snatching up 

my kittens and carrying ’em off to play 
with those barn-kittens. I expect they ’ll 
get to be just as common as they are, if this 
is n’t put a stop to.” 

The kittens themselves, however, had no 
such fears, and were delighted at the pros- 


196 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


pect of a play with the lively barn-kittens ; 
for it was not very entertaining to lie in the 
box by the kitchen stove, and Hannah al- 
ways drove them back if they ventured out 
of it when the children were not there. 
So wlien Posy dumped them on the barn- 
floor by the side of the tiger-kittens, they 
began to play in earnest. 

“ Let ’s have a tiger-hunt,” said Tom, 
after watching the kittens at their play ; 

and the barn-kittens can be the tigers, 
and the house-kittens can be our hunting- 
dogs.” 

Oh, splendid ! cried Posy, clapping 
her hands and jumping up and down. 

First, we ’ll make a cave,” said Tom, 
because tigers live in caves, you know ; ” 
and he began to dig a cave in the side of 
the hay-mow. Nancy entered into the work 
with great zest, and soon a fine cave was 
finished and the tigers were placed in it. 

What fun it would be if they could 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 197 

understand what we said to them ! said 
Nancy. I used to think that Billy under- 
stood what I told him, he always seemed 
so sorry when I told him how hungry and 
tired I was.” 

“ Mamma says that animals know more 
than we think they do,’^ said Tom. 

It really did seem as if the tiger-kittens 
knew what was expected of them ; for they 
stayed quite still in the cave, crouching 
down in the dark, and the little house- 
kittens sat down and looked up at Tom 
while he explained the game, just as if they 
understood every word he said. 

Now,” said Tom, we ’ll be the hunt- 
ers and we ’ll go out hunting for tigers, 
and the dogs will run about searching for 
game, and then we ’ll discover the cave 
and send ’em in to drive the tigers out.” 

“ I should think really and truly tigers 
would eat the dogs up,” said Nancy, who 
had a very practical mind. 


198 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

Torn looked somewhat crestfallen at this 
view of the question, but Posy said, — 

“We ’ll play these were good, kind tigers, 
and did n’t hurt anybody, won’t we ? ” 

So it was agreed that these tigers were 
exceptional tigers, and the hunting-party 
started out in search of game. 

“ Dear me ! ” cried Posy suddenly, “ I 
saw a great ugly rat run across there.” 

“ It could n’t have been a rat,” said 
Tom. “ They don’t dare to come out here ; 
they ’re afraid of the barn-cat.” 

“ It was a rat,” persisted Posy ; “ I know 
it was. It had a great long tail, and it had 
long yellow teeth, and one of them was 
broken off. I do wish the barn-cat were 
here.” 

“ No matter,” said Nancy, who was eager 
to continue the tiger-hunt ; “ he ’s gone now, 
and I don’t believe he 'll come back.” 

So the hunting-party started once more, 
and the dogs kept ahead, just exactly as if 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


199 


they had understood what Tom said about 
the game ; and soon they came to the cave, 
and went up to it and looked in. 

“ Hush ! ’’ said Tom, the dogs have 
scented game ; ” and the party stood still. 

Go in and drive ’em out ! ” said Tom to 
the dogs ; and in they went, and soon out 
came the tigers followed by the dogs. The 
tigers ran a short distance and then turned 
and faced the dogs, and the dogs pounced 
on them, and they rolled over and over till 
the children laughed so heartily they were 
obliged to sit down. 

Soon one of the tigers jumped up and ran 
off, and one of the dogs chased him into a 
corner, and then the tiger did something 
very unexpected. All at once he stopped 
and put his head on one side as if he were 
listening to something, and then he gave a 
little mew, and both he and the hunting- 
dog began pulling the hay away with their 
claws. 


200 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


They hear a mouse, I do believe,” said 
Tom. 

“ They would n t dig the hay away like 
that for a mouse,” said Nancy ; they ^d sit 
still and watch till it came out.” 

What can it be ? ” said the children, 
looking at each other in surprise, for the 
other two kittens had joined them, and all 
four were evidently in a state of great 
excitement. 

Let ^s help ’em,” said Nancy ; and she at 
once began pulling the hay away in large 
handfuls. Soon she heard a faint “ meaw ! ” 
from beneath the hay, and she kept on dig- 
ing till at last out walked the little gray 
kitten ! 

“You dear thing ! ” cried Posy, catch- 
ing her up in her arms and hugging her. 
“ How did you get in there I Her must 
have some milk right straight off, Nancy.” 

Tom and Nancy followed Posy into the 
kitchen ; and the barn-cat, who had just 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


201 


returned from a hunting expedition of her 
own, followed too, and jumped on the 
window-sill of the kitchen that she might 
see what went on without being driven 
away by the house-cat or Hannah. 

The little gray kitten was soon drinking 
her saucer of milk contentedly, while the 
children stood around as happy as she her- 
self was ; but not one of them was more 
gratified than the bam-cat, who was so fond 
of her little protegL 

“ Why, where has my necklace gone,” 
said Posy suddenly, putting her hand up 
to her neck, — “ my pretty amber necklace 
that Uncle Tom gave me?’' 

You must have dropped it in the barn 
while we were playing,” said Nancy ; “ I ’ll 
run back and look.” 

After a few minutes Nancy came back, 
walking slowly and with a disappointed ex- 
pression on her face. “ I ’ve looked every- 
where,” she said, but I can’t find it.” 


202 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ I did n’t suppose you would find it,” 
said Hannah dryly. “I guess you ’ve seen 
the last of your necklace, Posy ; it ’s gone 
to find the cat’s collar, I guess. Come,” 
she continued, turning to Nancy, “ you just 
understand that this won’t do here.” 

don’t know what you mean,” stam- 
mered poor Nancy, looking pale and fright- 
ened. 

‘^Yes, you do understand well enough,” 
said Hannah. You just hand over that 
necklace and that cat’s collar, or there ’ll he 
trouble, I can tell you.” 

don’t know where they are,” said 
Nancy, trembling. I have n’t touched 
them. The necklace was on Posy’s neck 
when we were playing in the barn.” 

“ Yes, I know that,” answered Hannah ; 
and you may as well own up first as last. 
Come, hand it over ; ” and she laid her 
hand on Nancy’s shoulder and gave her a 
sliake. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


203 


Indeed I don’t know where it is,” cried 
Nancy, bursting into tears ; do believe 
me ! ” 

“ She did n't steal it,” said Tom stoutly ; 

I know she did n’t ! Here, you just let 
her alone, old Hannah ! ” 

Hannah,” said Posy, stamping her little 
foot, “ you ’re a bad, bad girl, and I don’t 
love you one bit ! ” and Posy too burst into 
tears of excitement. 

We ’ll see who is the bad one before 
long,” said Hannah calmly. 

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” 
said Tom fiercely, and almost ready to cry 
witli Nancy and Posy. 

“Why, what’s all this?” said Mamma, 
coming into the kitchen. “ What has hap- 
pened?” and she looked in surprise from 
one to the other of the excited group. 

“ Posy’s necklace has disappeared, and I 
said I thought Nancy took it, and I say so 
now,” said Hannah decidedly. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


ANCY did nH steal my necklace, I 
Mow her did n’t,” said Posy. 

“Of course she did n’t,” said Tom ; “it 
must have dropped off while we were play- 
ing tiger.” 

“ Then why is n’t it there ? ” asked Han- 
nah triumphantly; “it couldn’t have run 
away by itself, I suppose.” 

“ Why do you accuse Nancy of taking it, 
Hannah ? ” asked Mrs. Winton. 

“ Because it is n’t the first thing that has 
disappeared since she came here. My sil- 
ver thimble is missing too. I had it yes- 
terday when I was sitting in the porch 
sewing.” 

“ But it is very wrong to accuse anybody 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


205 


unless you have proof of his guilt/' said 
Mrs. Win ton. 

“ Oh, do please believe me, ma’am ! ” said 
Nancy, with the tears running down her 
cheeks and a most distressed look in her 
face. How could I be so mean as to steal 
from people who have been so kind to me, 
— and from dear little Posy too ! Oh, do 
please believe me ! " 

“I will believe you, Nancy,” said Mrs. 
Winton kindly. ^‘Now stop crying, and 
remember that we will be your friends as 
long as you are a good little girl. Run out 
to play, children, and perhaps you will find 
the necklace.” 

So Nancy dried her tears and was ten- 
derly conducted out of doors by Tom and 
Posy on either side ; and they proved such 
good comforters that in a short time she 
was laughing heartily. 

“ Now, Hannah,” said Mrs. Winton, when 
the children were gone, “ I want you to 


206 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


give up tlie thought that Nancy is a thief. 
She is a poor, neglected child, and I should 
think that all your sympathies would go 
out towards lier.” 

I don’t believe in her honesty,” replied 
Hannah, unmoved. ‘‘ I made up my mind 
she was a thief the first time I sot eyes on 
her.” 

First impressions are not to be trusted,” 
said Mrs. Winton. “ I shall believe the child 
honest until I have reason to doubt her, and 
certainly there has been nothing to prove 
her guilt yet.” 

Hannah did n’t dare say more, but she 
secretly resolved to watch the child closely. 

The bara-cat, sitting on the window-sill, 
had heard the whole conversation, and so 
had the little gray kitten ; and the barn-cat 
reported it faithfully to Mrs. Polly, who 
was greatly troubled by it. I ’ll think it 
over and see if I can find any way to prove 
Nancy’s innocence,” she said. ‘ Give a 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


207 


dog a bad name and it will stick to him,’ 
is a very true saying, and we must clear 
this poor child’s reputation, or by-and-by 
others besides Hannah will begin to suspect 
her. Yes, I ’ll think the matter over care- 
fully and see what can be done. The spar- 
row moves his family over here to-day, and 
I am very glad of it. I am in hopes he 
will turn over a new leaf and stay at home 
more in the future.” 

“ Seeing is believing,” said the barn-cat 
dryly ; “I have n’t much hope of him 
myself.” 

It was true that the sparrow was about to 
move. Mrs. Polly’s sharp eyes had discov- 
ered a deserted swallow's nest just under 
the roof of the piazza, in a position where 
she could watch what went on ; and she 
proposed that he should put it in order for 
his family. The plan pleased the sparrow, 
and he at once set to work to build. He 
brought bits of straw and twine and hair, 


208 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


in fact anything he could find, and put it 
inside the swallow’s nest. He was a care- 
less fellow, and did n’t spend any more time 
than was necessary over the building ; but 
when it was finished it was quite a nice 
little house, — a great improvement, cer- 
tainly, on the house in the elm-tree that his 
family now occupied. 

The next day the sparrow appeared, es- 
corting his bright-eyed wife and her three 
little ones, now fine strong young birds ; 
and they seemed much pleased with their 
new quarters. 

“That bright-eyed Mrs. Sparrow is a 
nice little thing,” said Mrs. Polly to her- 
self, “ much too nice to be neglected by 
that scamp of a husband of hers. I ’ll keep 
a sharp look-out, and set matters straight if 
he goes on in the old way.” 

The sparrow was very attentive to his 
family the first day, and brought the finest 
worms and insects he could find for them to 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


209 


eat, and busied himself for their comfort in 
many ways, and the bright-eyed sparrow 
looked very happy ; but when twilight 
came on the sparrow became a little restless 
and nervous, as if he had something on his 
mind. Mrs. Polly’s shrewd eyes noticed 
all this, and she said to herself, — 

It ’s just as I thought ; but I did think 
he ’d have sense enough to stay at home 
the first night. It ’s much worse than I 
thought.” 

“ Good-night, my dear,” said the sparrow, 
coming up. to his bright-eyed wife and giv- 
ing her a hasty kiss ; I ’ll be in as early 
as I can.” 

You don’t mean to say you ’re going to 
leave me the very first night after we ’ve 
been separated so long, and in a strange 
place too ? ” said the bright-eyed sparrow 
indignantly. 

Only for a short time, my dear. It ’s 
an engagement I made some time ago. 

14 


210 


SPARROW; THE TRAMP. 


Very sorry; upon my honor; but I must 
keep my word ! ” 

How can you treat me so ? ” said the 
bright-eyed sparrow. You ought to be 
ashamed of yourself. I ’ll go back to-mor- 
row, and never live with you any more ! ” 
The spaiTOw considered a moment. He 
tvas a good-natured fellow in spite of his 
roving propensities. He looked at the 
bright-eyed sparrow ; she was crying, and 
he could n’t leave her feeling so unhappy. 
He went up to her and said in a very 
tender tone, — 

See here, my dear ! don’t you know that 
you ’re going to work the wrong way I I 
am the easiest fellow to manage you ever 
saw if you know how to take me.” 

I wish I knew the way to take you,” 
answered the bright-eyed sparrow ; I ’d 
take it fast enough. I manage you^ indeed ! ” 
and she gave a scornful little laugh. 

“ Did you ever hear that you could 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 211 

catch more flies with molasses than with 
vinegar?” said the sparrow. Well, my 
dear, I am willing to be caught with mo- 
lasses, but clip my pinions if you ’ll catch 
me with vinegar ! Come, my dear,” he said 
very gently and putting his little head close 
to hers, if you want me to stay at home 
tell me that you care a little for me, and 
make me feel good, instead of telling me 
what a worthless fellow I am.” 

Will you really and truly stay ? ” said 
the bright-eyed sparrow, smiling through 
her tears. 

Eeally and truly,” answered the sparrow 
tenderly. 

Then I ’ll think you are the dearest and 
best husband in the whole world,” answered 
the bright-eyed sparrow; and she reached 
up her little beak and gave him a hearty 
kiss. 

That ’s as it should be,” said Mrs. Polly 
to herself, with her nod of satisfaction, “ but 


212 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

it won’t last long. He ’ll be trying it over 
again soon, and they ’ll not always make 
up so easy. I do wish he had firmer 
principles ! ” 

Mrs. Polly was right. It was not very 
long before there was trouble again in the 
sparrow’s household. One afternoon the 
bright-eyed sparrow looked very anxious. 
She flew backward and forward, and perched 
on the top of the tallest trees and looked 
about in every direction, and then she 
flew home again and peered out of her 
little house with a very distressed ex- 
pression. 

“ I know what it all means,” said Mrs. 
Polly ; that scamp of a husband of hers 
is off again. I must give him a talking to. 
He ought to set a better example to his 
young family.” 

Good-evening, my dear,” she called to 
the bright-eyed sparrow, who was just then 
looking out of her house ; has n’t your 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 213 

husband come home yet I He ought to be 
in by this time.’’ 

Oh ! he ’ll come soon, I dare say,” an- 
swered the bright-eyed sparrow cheerfully ; 
he ’s probably been detained by business.” 

Don’t feel anxious, my dear,” said Mrs. 
Polly ; “ nothing will happen to him.” 

“ Oh, I ’m not at all anxious,” said the 
bright-eyed sparrow, with a great attempt 
at cheerfulness ; but her voice was not as 
hopeful as her words, and it had a sad tone 
that quite touched Mrs. Polly. 

He ’s been away all day long,” whis- 
pered the canary to Mrs. Polly ; I saw him 
go off early this morning, and if she sees 
him before to-morrow morning it’s more 
than I think she will.” 

I declare it is too bad, too bad ! ” 
said Mrs. Polly, shaking her head gravely. 

The canary was right. Just before day- 
break the next morning they heard the 
sparrow come home ; and although the din- 


214 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


ing-room window was closed, they knew 
from the sounds that reached them that the 
sparrows had a quarrel. Mrs. Polly waited 
until the sparrow was awake, — for he slept 
late after his dissipation, and it was after- 
noon before he was fully awake, — and 
then she called to them that she had some- 
thing to say to them. 

Both of the birds flew down and seated 
themselves on the flowering-currant bush 
before the dining-room window, where Mrs. 
Polly could converse easily with them. 



Why do you accuse Nancy of taking it ? ” — Page 204. 



CHAPTER XVII. 


M RS. POLLY looked seriously from 
the sparrow, who sat pluming his ruf- 
fled feathers, to his little wife, who looked 
as fresh and bright-eyed as ever. 

I want to have a little talk with you,” 
began Mrs. Polly in a serious tone, “ and I 
take it that this is as good a time as any.” 

Delighted, I ^m sure,” said the sparrow 
indifferently, as he continued his toilet. 

“I Ve noticed,” said Mrs. Polly severely, 
for she was not pleased with the sparrow’s 
frivolous manner, ^^that you neglect your 
family a good deal. I Ve seen more than 
you are aware of” 

Flattered, I ’m sure, by the attention,” 
replied the sparrow, carefully picking out 


216 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


a particularly rough feather and drawing 
his beak through it. 

^^My friend,” said Mrs. Polly in the same 
serious tone, *^you won’t deter me from 
doing my duty by such frivolous remarks. 
I have lived in the world long enough to 
see many generations of sparrows come and 
go, and I shall not see a young couple be- 
ginning life start out on such a mistaken 
course as you have chosen, without making 
an attempt to set them right. Pray, what 
were you married for, I should like to 
know ^ ” 

The sparrow considered a moment and 
then said waggishly, — 

“ Give it up.” 

can tell you,” answered Mrs. Polly. 
‘‘You saw that pretty bright- eyed sparrow, 
and you made her think there never was 
such a handsome, wonderful fellow as you 
were, and you married her without a 
thought of the future. It never occurred 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


217 


to you tbat you must take care of her and 
protect her. She has done her part, and 
has been a faithful mother to your children ; 
but how have you done yours? Flying 
around here and there, flirting with this one 
and rollicking with that one. I know your 
ways. Your family would have starved 
long ago if it had not been for your little 
wife there.” 

He has been a very good husband in- 
deed,” said the bright-eyed sparrow warmly, 
have nothing to complain of.” 

“ It is very loving of you to defend your 
husband, my dear, but he does n’t really 
deserve it. I saw you, last evening, look- 
ing out for him so anxiously, and I heard 
him, too, come home this morning just 
before daybreak, and I knew you had 
words about it. You make up, I know, 
and are very affectionate until the next out- 
break occurs ; but you may take my word 
for it that every quarrel you have weakens 


218 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


the love you bear each other, and by-and- 
by there’ will be no makings up, and a feel- 
ing of bitterness will take the place of the 
love you now have for each other.” 

Both her listeners were silent, as Mrs. 
Polly paused for a moment and looked seri- 
ously at them ; then she continued, — 

“ I have seen many young couples begin 
as you have begun and grow apart from 
each other ; but I take too much interest in 
you, my friends, to see you go wrong with- 
out a word of warning. Think of your 
young family and the responsibility of set- 
ting a good example to them ; their young 
eyes are keener than you think they are.” 

The sparrow had thrown aside his indif- 
ferent manner, and listened attentively to 
the last part of Mrs. Polly’s remarks ; and 
as she concluded, he hopped on the bougli 
beside the bright-eyed sparrow and nestled 
affectionately against lier. 

“You are right,” he said; “I am a 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


219 


worthless vagabond, and don’t deserve such 
a good little wife as I Ve got ; but with 
all your wisdom, Mrs. Polly, have n’t you 
learned that you can’t teach an old dog 
new tricks!” 

“ Nonsense ! ” said Mrs. Polly decidedly ; 

the idea of a bright young fellow like you 
talking in that style ! You ’ve got sense 
enough, and you ’re good-hearted and brave ; 
now don’t throw away all those good quali- 
ties, but use them to make of yourself a 
useful member of society.” 

I ’ll be shot if I don’t try,” said the 
sparrow, with an affectionate glance at the 
bright-eyed sparrow ; and judging from 
the manner in which she nestled against 
him, it was very evident to Mrs. Polly that 
there was plenty of love left. 

Meanwhile Gray whisker sat in his hole, 
laying plans for the future. 

It ’s provoking,” he said to himself, 
‘^that they found the gray kitten so soon. 


220 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


However, I caused them some trouble, and 
it could n’t have been very pleasant for 
her to be penned up over night in the 
hay without food ; there ’s some comfort in 
that. Then I Ve got Posy’s amber neck- 
lace all safe. She did n’t think the ^ great 
ugly rat ’ that frightened her so when she 
was playing in the barn knew enough to 
pick it up when it dropped off. Well, 
that ’s encouraging too ; and then Hannah’s 
thimble, — here it is, safe and sound, and here 
it will stay ; and then, my dear Mrs. Barn- 
cat, here ’s your fine collar that you were 
so fond of. You were in such an excited 
state of mind when you lost it off that you 
did n’t know it liad gone. Here it is, and 
here it will remain too. I should like to 
see you venture in here again, my fine 
young cock-sparrow ; you would n’t get off 
quite so easily the next time, I can tell you. 
I shan’t go out again without leaving some- 
body here on guard. Hallo ! who ’s that I ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


221 


he exclaimed, as his quick ears caught a 
faint sound. Oh, I know your light step, 
Mrs. Silverskin ; come in.” 

Mrs. Silverskin appeared in her usual 
timid manner. I have heard something 
I thought you would be pleased to know,” 
she said in her little weak voice. I was 
hiding behind the kitchen door yesterday, 
where I picked up a few crumbs the chil- 
dren had dropped from their lunch, and I 
heard Hannah tell Mrs. Winton that Nancy 
was a thief, and had stolen Posy’s amber 
necklace and Hannah’s silver thimble and 
the cat’s collar.” 

Good ! ” exclaimed Gray whisker, with 
a disagreeable chuckle that displayed his 
broken front tooth very unpleasantly ; 
“ nothing could be better ! and what did 
Mrs. Winton say ? ” 

She said she did n’t believe it, — that 
she should bMieve her innocent until she 
had proof of her guilt.” 


222 srARROW, the tramp. 

She shall have proof of it/’ said the 
old rat maliciously, and before long 
too.” 

“ How so ? ” asked Mrs. Silverskin. 

It ’s easy enough to bring that about,” 
replied Gray whisker. Don’t you see that if 
Hannah’s thimble is hidden among Nancy’s 
things it will be sufficient proof of her 
guilt ’I ” 

But who will put it there I ” asked 
Mrs. Silverskin, who had a secret misgiving 
that the task would fall upon her. 

You ! ” said Gray whisker ; “ have n’t 
I done favors enough for you % ” 

‘‘ I came very near being caught by the 
house-cat when I stole Hannah’s thimble,” 
said poor Mrs. Silverskin, and I am afraid 
to go there so often.” 

<‘Very well, Madam, then you can take 
the consequences,” replied Graywhisker 
fiercely. 

“ I suppose I must,” answered the little 


SPARKOW, THE TRAMP. 


223 


mouse sadly ; “ but if anything happens to 
me I hope you will see that my family are 
provided for.” 

You need have no fears for them,” 
answered Gray whisker. “ To-night, when 
all is still, you take the thimble and hide it 
among some of Nancy’s things in her cham- 
ber. Hannah will find it before long, and 
then we ’ll see how long they will believe 
Nancy innocent.” 

A little later the sparrow was flying by 
Major, who was hitched to a post in the 
yard, ready to go to the depot for Mr. 
Winton, when he neighed to him to stop. 

Come here a minute and sit near me 
while I tell you something very important,” 
he said. 

The sparrow did as he was bid, and 
perched on top of the post, close to Major’s 
nose. 

A little while ago, while I was taking 
my after-dinner nap,” began Major, I 


224 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


heard voices, and I can tell you my ears 
were wide open. I soon discovered that 
the speakers were Mrs. Silverskin and a 
friend of hers. Mrs. Silverskin said, ^ I am 
all of a tremble, for I Ve just had an inter- 
view with Graywhisker, and he insists on 
my taking Hannah’s silver thimble and put- 
ing it among Nancy’s things, to make them 
think she stole it.’ 

^ Well, what is there to tremble about ? ’ 
said the other mouse ; I don’t see anything 
alarming in that.’ 

‘ Just think of the danger I run in 
passing the house-cat/ said Mrs. Silverskin ; 
^ she very nearly caught me the other day 
when I stole the thimble.’ 

^ She is n’t half so bad as the barn-cat,’ 
said the other mouse. 

“ ‘ I know she is n’t quite so quick, but 
she ’s too quick to suit me.’ 

“ ‘ I would n’t go, then ; tell Graywhisker 
to go himself.’ 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


225 


^ Dear me ! you don’t know him as well 
as I do. I must go ! ’ 

“ ^ Well, then, why need you go through 
the kitchen at all ? ^ 

^ How in the world can I get into the 
chamber without ? I can’t climb up the side 
of the house,’ said Mrs. Silverskin. 

^ Don’t you know the way through the 
shed ? You just go through the shed, and 
up the stairs that lead to the loft above, 
where they keep stores, and you ’ll find a 
little hole down at the right-hand corner 
that leads into the chamber. I helped 
gnaw it one night, and I know all about it. 
I ’ve bitten off pieces of Hannah’s tallow 
candle more than once.’ 

‘ It ’s a great relief to know that,’ said 
Mrs. Silverskin ; ^ thank you for the infor- 
mation.’ ” 

And I thank her for the information 
too,’’ said the sparrow. I can’t aftend to 
it myself,” he added, with an air of impor- 
15 


226 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


tance, “ because I ’m a family man and don’t 
like to be knocking around nights ; but our 
friend the house-cat will be on hand, I ’ve 
no doubt. The sooner I inform her of the 
matter the better ; ” and he Hew off in search 
of the house-cat. 



The sparrow perched on top of the post.” — Page 223. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 


^HAT night when Hannah was ready 
to go to bed, the house-cat was no- 
where to be found. She did n’t like to go 
to bed and lock her out, for she feared she 
might come home during the night and 
make a disturbance ; and, moreover, she 
did n’t fancy the thought of getting up after 
she had gone to bed, to let her in. 

Hannah went to the door and called, but 
there was no answer ; and after going about 
the garden, calling “Puss, puss,” her pa- 
tience gave out and she went back to the 
kitchen. “ Stay out, then, if you want to ; 
you won’t catch me getting up to let you 
in, if you yawl all night,” she said, as she 
shut and bolted the door. 


228 


SrARROW, THE TRAMP. 


The house-kittens might have given her 
some information on the subject, if she 
could have understood their language, — 
for their mother had told them, early in 
the evening, not to be alarmed if she were 
out all night, as she had very important 
business to attend to ; but Hannah only 
thought they were mewing for their mother, 
when they tried to make her understand. 
So Hannah went up to bed, where Nancy 
was already sound asleep in her little cot- 
bed and happily unconscious of the deep 
plot laid for her by the evil-minded old rat. 

You look innocent enough,” said Han- 
nah, as her eyes fell on the sleeping child, 
who was smiling in her sleep at some pleas- 
ant dream ; “ but I don’t trust you, — ap- 
pearances are too suspicious.” 

Soon Hannah too was fast asleep, and 
the house silent. 

Then, when everything was quiet, old 
Graywhisker, with Hannah’s silver thimble 


SPAKROW, THE TRAMP. 


229 


in his mouth, came softly out of his hole 
and looked cautiously around to see if the 
barn-cat were in sight. Not a sound was 
to be heard, and he crept slyly along till he 
came to a hole in the corner of the barn 
farthest from the barn-cat's nest ; for he 
did n’t dare trust the private entrance any 
more, and had made this new exit with the 
help of some of the younger rats. 

When he found himself out of doors he 
looked anxiously about. Yes, there was 
Mrs. Silverskin, just where she had agreed 
to be ; and he went towards her. 

“ Here is the thimble, and mind you don’t 
lose it ! ” he said, as he dropped it noiselessly 
on the ground in front of the little mouse. 
“ Be sure you put it among Nancy’s things, 
where Hannah will be likely to see it.” 

“ I will do my best,” said Mrs. Silverskin 
softly. 

You are quite sure you understand the 
way through the shed?” asked Gray whisker. 


230 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Quite sure,” answered the little mouse ; 
don’t see how I could possibly miss 
it.” 

‘^Well, then, all is quiet now, and the 
sooner you are off the better.” 

Mrs. Silverskin took up the thimble and 
started on her expedition, and the old rat 
returned to his hole to await her return. 

When the little mouse came to the shed- 
door, she stopped and looked cautiously 
around. Not a sound was to be heard, and 
she crept through a little hole under the 
door and entered tlie shed. Everything 
was very still, — not even a mouse was stir- 
ring besides herself, — and she soon came 
to the stairs that led to the loft above. 

A ray of moonlight fell across the stairs, 
and little Mrs. Silverskin stopped a minute 
to rest and laid the silver thimble down. It 
shone very prettily in the moonlight, and 
she looked at it longingly. 

How my children would like it for a 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


231 


plaything ! she said to herself ; “ it seems 
a shame they can’t have it. It is too bad 
to make them think that poor child is a 
thief. She has a very good heart. I heard 
them say she used to save crumbs for the 
mice when she did n’t have enough to eat 
herself Posy, too, — she is such a dear 
child, I hate to make her so unhappy. I 
believe I will keep it for my babies, and 
make old Gray whisker think I put it in 
Nancy’s room. But then if he should ever 
find out the truth it would be the end of 
me ; and he ’d be sure to find it out, for he 
knows everything. The barn-cat came near 
getting him the other day, — I’m sure I 
wish she had. Dear me ! what was that 
noise ? ” 

Little Mrs. Silverskin trembled like a 
leaf ; but all was still again, and she con- 
cluded it was only something that fell 
down in the loft above. So, when she was 
quite sure everything was quiet again, she 


232 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


took up tlie thimble and went on very 
cautiously. 

She reached the head of the stairs and 
found herself in the loft, and over there in 
the corner was the hole just as her friend 
had described it to her. “ If I was n’t sure 
the house-cat was locked up in the kitchen, 
I should think she was somewhere about,” 
said little Mrs. Silverskin to herself, “ for 
I feel cold shivers down my spine just as 
I always do when she or the barn-cat is 
about ; but I ’m only nervous, I guess.” 

So the little mouse went on her way, and 
had nearly reached the hole, when suddenly 
from behind a barrel darted the house-cat, 
her large yellow eyes glaring fiercely in 
the moonlight. 

The poor little mouse gave a squeak of 
terror, and dropping the silver thimble ran 
swiftly for her life, closely followed by the 
house-cat. One pause or misstep and all 
would have been over with Mrs. Silverskin ; 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


233 


and thinking of her babies at home who 
were waiting for her, she ran as she never 
ran before, dreading every moment to feel 
the house-caf s cruel claws ; but she reached 
the hole under the shed-door in safety, and 
had just time to whisk her tail in after her 
when the house-cat’s claws were at the 
entrance. 

How her little heart did beat when she 
reached the barn ; and how much faster 
still it beat when she remembered that she 
had left Hannah’s silver thimble behind, 
and must give an account of herself to old 
Gray whisker ! Yes, there was the old rat 
peering out of his hole, and she couldn’t 
pass without his seeing her. His sharp old 
eyes soon spied her out, and he called to 
her to stop. 

‘^Well,” he said, eying her sharply as 
she stood trembling before him, “ how 
did you get along ? Come, don’t keep me 
waiting here all night ! ” 


234 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


I got along very well,” said the little 
mouse, until I reached the loft, and I was 
almost up to the hole in the corner when 
all at once out sprang the house-cat and 
I had to run for dear life. I never had such 
a narrow escape in my life.” 

And the thimble ! ” exclaimed the old rat 
in a fierce tone ; “ where is the thimble I ” 

“ I dropped it in my fright,” said the little 
mouse in a shaking voice. “ I could n’t run 
with it in my mouth ; the house-cat would 
surely have caught me if I had.” 

“What!” squeaked the old rat. “You 
lost the thimble, did you I ” and he sprang 
so suddenly at the poor little mouse that 
she gave a loud squeal of terror, — so loud 
that the barn-cat awoke from one of her 
light cat-naps and quickly started up. As 
she appeared, both Graywhisker and Mrs. 
Silverskin ran. 

“ I believe I ’m more afraid of Gray- 
whisker than I am even of the barn-cat,” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


235 


said the little mouse to herself, as she 
reached her hole above the mow in safety. 

Dear me, what a fearful night this has 
been ! To be almost caught by the house- 
cat, pounced on by Graywhisker, and then 
chased by the barn-cat ! Graywhisker is 
certainly the worst of the three ! What will 
he do to me for losing the thimble ? I 
shan’t dare to stir out of my house till the 
affair has blown over.” 

The next morning the house-kittens were 
busily playing. 

What has got into those kittens I They 
act as if they were crazy,” said Hannah, 
when she had nearly fallen over them for 
the fifth time before breakfast. ^^Here, 
you run out of doors and play there,” she 
continued, driving them out ; “I don’t care 
to break my neck just yet ! ” So out the 
kittens went, and the same performance was 
gone through with there. 

‘‘What can those kittens have to play 


236 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


with, do you suppose?” said Nancy, as the 
children came in from the garden to break- 
fast ; they are rolling something that 
shines ; ” and they ran up to examine it 
more closely. 

It is Hannalfs silver thimble, I do be- 
lieve ! ” exclaimed Tom, as he picked up 
the shining plaything. 

Oh, I ^m so glad ! ” cried Nancy joy- 
fully; “now she won’t think I stole it.” 

“ I shall show it to her right off this very 
minute,” said Posy, snatching the thim- 
ble out of Tom’s hand and running into 
the kitchen with it in a very earnest 
manner. 

“ Hannah,” she said, holding up the thim- 
ble, “ here is your silver thimble, — the 
house-kittens had it to play with, and Nancy 
did n’t steal it, there now ! ” 

Hannah put the thimble in her pocket 
without a word ; but this did n’t satisfy 
Posy, who liked to see justice done, and 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


237 


always felt distressed if people were not 
^ harmonious in their relations to each other. 

“ Now you know her is n’t a thief, don’t 
you, Hannah I ” said Posy in her most 
winning tones. 

I suppose she did n’t take the thimble,” 
replied Hannah; “but the necklace and the 
cat’s collar have n’t turned up yet.” 

“Hannah!” cried Posy indignantly, “I 
think you are a very mean girl, and I shan’t 
ever come and help you cook any more 1 ” 

“ Oh, do 1 ” said Hannah, trying to look 
very serious ; “ however shall I get along 
with my cooking if you don’t help me I ” 
“No,” replied Posy decidedly, “ I shan’t 
ever help you make cookies or anything 
else ; see if I do ! ” 



Mrs. Silverskin drops the thimble. — Page 232. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


^HE next morning Mr. and Mrs. Winton 
were talking earnestly together in the 
dining-room, and Mrs. Polly was listening 
with all her might, for the conversation 
turned on a subject that interested her 
greatly. At a very important stage of the 
conversation the door opened, and Posy 
entered. 

Mrs. Polly was greatly annoyed at the 
interruption, and at once called “ Posy,” in 
a voice so like Tom’s that for a moment 
Posy thought it really was Tom’s voice ; 
the second time Polly called. Posy detected 
the deception. 

I know your voice, Mrs. Polly,” said 
Posy, you can’t fool me quite so easy ; ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 239 

and the large peanuts in Polly’s cage 
looked so very inviting that she couldn’t 
resist the temptation of fishing one out, 
Mrs. Polly’s sharp eyes watching her fin- 
gers and trying to give them a nip, al- 
though she would n’t have had the heart to 
hurt Posy in spite of her annoyance. 

What do you want. Posy ? ” asked 
Mamma, who had stopped talking as soon 
as the little girl appeared. 

“ Miss Pompadour is going to be mar- 
ried,” said Posy, and her wants a nice 
handkerchief with pretty lace on it.” 

Mamma agreed to let her have the hand- 
kerchief provided she would return it, and 
told Posy where she could find it ; but 
Posy still lingered, much to Mrs. Polly’s 
vexation, for the interesting conversation 
that Posy had interrupted would not be 
resumed as long as she remained in the 
room. 

“ Her wants a fan too,” said Posy. 


240 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ A fan ? ” said Mamma. “ Oh no, she 
does n’t need a fan.’’ 

“Yes, her does,” persisted Posy “ her ’s 
to be married, you know, and her must 
have a fan to blush on.” 

" ^To blush on ’ ? ” asked Mamma. "Why, 
what do you mean, Posy ? ” 

“ Why, don’t you ’member ^ Jenny 
blushed behind her fan ’ ? Peoples always 
does, Tom says.” 

“ If Tom says so it must be so,” said 
Papa. “ I think Mamma can let you have 
a fan for such an important occasion. 
Posy.” 

“ You are a dear, kind Papa,” said Posy, 
hugging him ; “ and if you ’ll give me a 
dollar I ’ll buy you such a beautiful birthday 
present ! I may as well tell you what it 
is, for you ’ll forget all about it before the 
time comes.” 

“ Don’t tell me,” said Papa, “ I like to be 
surprised ; but you shall have the dollar 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


241 


when the time comes if you ’ll run off now, 
for Mamma has something to say to me.” 

So off ran Posy for the handkerchief and 
fan, and when they were alone again Mrs. 
Winton continued : — 

As I was telling you, you don’t know 
how unhappy I feel about Nancy. Hannah 
insists that she took Posy’s necklace — ” 
Eats ! ” called out Polly in a loud tone, 
rats ! ” 

Be quiet, Polly,” said Mrs. Winton. — 
I don’t think it right to suspect the 
child without proof ; but I must say that it 
looks very suspicious, and then, too, when 
Posy missed the necklace she offered to run 
back to the barn and look for it ; but she 
felt so badly when Hannah accused her, 
that I pitied her and didn’t believe she 
could have taken it.” 

“ Eats ! ” called Polly again. 

She does n’t look like a dishonest child,” 
said Mr. Winton ; but the poor thing has 
16 


242 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


been so neglected and abused that it 
would n’t be strange if tlie temptation were 
too great for her sometimes. We must 
be on the lookout, for if she is really 
dishonest this will not be the last of her 
thefts.” 

The children are very fond of her, and 
she certainly does seem devoted to them, 
especially Posy. I must say it makes me 
very uneasy to think my innocent children 
may be influenced by her to do something 
wrong.” 

don’t believe it,” said Mr. Winton, “I 
don’t believe she will injure either of them ; 
but I would watch her closely, and if you 
have reason to suspect her again, investigate 
the matter thoroughly, for the poor child 
has never had any care and you may per- 
haps be the means of saving her.” 

“ Then Hannah says,” resumed Mrs. Win- 
ton, that she misses a good deal from the 
stores in the loft over the shed, — sugar and 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


243 


raisins and such things, — and she is sure 
Nancy takes them.” 

Rats ! rats ! ” screamed Mrs. Polly again, 
so loudly that Mr. Winton exclaimed, — 
What a nuisance that bird is when she 
screams so ! I wonder if she does see a 
rat ! She sticks to it so persistently I 
should n’t wonder ; ” and he rose and looked 
out of the window. There were no signs 
of rats there, however ; the only living crea- 
tures he saw were the little span*ows who 
had a nest under the eaves of the piazza. 

Well, I must go,” he said, as he came 
back from the window. “ Major will think 
that I have forgotten he is waiting har- 
nessed ; ” and soon Mrs. Polly and the 
canary were the only occupants of the 
dining-room. 

“ Provoking ! ” exclaimed Mrs. Polly. I 
do think human beings are the stupidest 
things ! Here I told them, as plainly as 
could be, that the rats stole Posy’s necklace 


244 SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 

and the sugar and raisins, and they could n’t 
understand ! Talk about animals not being 
as intelligent as human beings ! Why can’t 
they understand us as well as we can them, 
I should like to know ! ” 

It does seem strange they did n’t know 
what you meant,” said the canary ; I am 
sure you spoke plainly enough.” 

I can’t understand,” said Mrs. Polly in 
an irritable tone, how they can be so 
stupid. Here they know that the rats steal 
Major’s oats, and that it is the habit of rats 
to steal anything that attracts their atten- 
tion, and yet it never occurs to them that 
they are the ones that take the sugar and 
raisins ! If the barn-cat and the house-cat 
were not so jealous of each other and did n’t 
quarrel all the time, they might catch old 
Gray whisker, for he is the one that makes 
all the trouble; but no, they can’t work 
together, and while one is at one end of 
the hole, he slips out of the other. If 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


245 


they could only agree together for one to 
watch at each end, they ’d catch him fast 
enough.” 

“ There ’ll be trouble as long as he lives,” 
sighed the canary. Posy said Michael 
was going to set a trap for him.” 

“ Much good that will do,” replied Mrs. 
Polly scornfully ; “he ’s too old a head to 
walk into a trap.” 

All this time the barn-cat and the house- 
cat had been devoting all their energies to 
catching Gray whisker. It was very seldom 
that either one or the other was not in the 
way when he attempted to venture out; 
and the barn-cat set the gray kitten and the 
little tiger-kittens to watch when she could 
not. 

The gray kitten had grown stronger than 
she was when she first came to live there, 
and the young tiger-kittens considered them- 
selves a match even for Graywhisker. As 
for poor little Mrs. Silverskin, she dared not 


246 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


venture out at all in these troubled times ; 
for, between her fear of Graywhisker and 
the cats, times were hard indeed. 

Old Graywhisker felt that his case was 
becoming desperate. He sat in his house 
and looked around on his once well-filled 
larder. Not a crust, or rind of cheese or 
pork, was left. His last crumb was gone, 
and where was he to get more ? It was 
now several days since he had dared ven- 
ture out, and it was evident the cats were 
bent on his destruction, for there was now 
never a time when one of them was not 
about. He knew he must make a bold 
move and try to escape from the cats or 
else die of starvation. 

You’ll never catch Graywhisker there,” 
said the barn-cat to the house-cat, wdio was 
watching the hole outside the barn. He 
comes out by half a dozen different ways.” 

Then why don’t you catch him your- 
self ? If you know so mucli better than 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


247 


anybody else, I should think it would 
be easy enough,” retorted the house-cat 
angrily. 

‘‘ I intend to catch him,” replied the 
barn-cat ; “he ’ll soon be starved out and 
have to leave his hole.” 

“ And I intend to catch him too,” said the 
house-cat. 

“ Between you both you ’ll lose him,” 
said the sparrow to himself, who, perched 
on a pear-tree, had overheard the conver- 
sation. 

Meanwhile Graywhisker grew more and 
more hungry. He searched his house over 
and over again, hoping that he might have 
overlooked a crust, but he could find noth- 
ing. Then his eyes fell on the barn-cat’s col- 
lar, and he gave the ugly grin that displayed 
the broken front tooth so unpleasantly. 
“ If I can’t make you ornamental I can at 
least make you useful, my dear Mrs. Barn- 
cat,” he said. “ Leather is not as much to 


248 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


my taste as pork or cheese or sugar, but it 
is better than nothing ; so here goes ! ’’ and 
taking the pretty red collar between his 
forepaws, he bit out a large piece. Not 
much flavor,” he continued ; “ but if you 
think of a nice bit of toasted cheese or a 
delicate piece of pork rind while it ’s going 
down, it is n’t so bad.” 

Soon nothing remained of the gay little 
collar that had been the barn-cat’s pride, 
but the plate on which to engrave the 
name and the padlock that used to tinkle 
so musically ; but after the leather was 
eaten up, Graywhisker became desperate 
indeed ! 

“If I could get hold of one of those 
tiger-kittens, would n’t it be a treat ? ” he 
exclaimed, with a horrible grimace. “ I 
will venture out, cost what it may. I don’t 
know as it would be any worse to be 
caught by the cats than to die here slowly 
by inches. Oh, if I could only get hold 


SPA.RROW, THE TRAMP. 


249 


of one of those young rats or Mrs. Sil- 
verskin ! I 'd make them bring me some- 
thing to eat, — they are so much lighter 
than I am they can slip along more 
easily” 

The barn-cat sat behind a post in the 
barn, where she could hear and see with- 
out being seen, and the house-cat was 
watching a hole outside with great per- 
severance. 

“ He can’t come out without one of us 
seeing him,” said tlie barn-cat to herself ; 
“I am sure of that. One thing is certain ; 
he can’t stand it much longer. He must 
venture out soon for food, and then — ” 

Yes, she was right ; he was coming out at 
last, — that was his long gray nose looking 
out of his hole, and those his small sharp 
eyes. Hardly daring to breathe, the barn- 
cat watched every motion. He looked 
anxiously around in every direction, and 
then stole softly along. The bam-cat did 


250 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


not stir until he was directly ojDposite the 
post where she was concealed, and then 
gave a sudden spring, and her shai’p claws 
were fastened in his back, and the old thief 
and plotter was a prisoner ! 



Posy takes a peanut from Mrs. Polly’s cage. — Page 239. 


CHAPTER XX. 


to the barn, the three of yees, 
till ye see the big rat the barn-cat is 
after catching,” said Michael to the children 
the next morning ; and off they started, in 
such a hurry that poor little Posy tripped 
over a stone and scraped the skin off her 
chubby little hands. 

“ Be a brave girl and don’t cry,” said 
Tom encouragingly, looking at Posy^s face, 
that was distorted from the effort she made 
to keep from crying. 

No,” said Posy, swallowing very hard 
and winking back the tears ; I don’t cry 
at trifles, do I, Tom I Some girls would 
cry, would n’t they, Tom I The tears might 
come into my eyes just a little bit, you 


252 SPARROW^ THE TRAMP. 

know, but I would n’t cry ; ” and two great 
tears rolled down Posy’s cheeks as she 
spoke. 

Nancy and Tom wiped the little hands 
very tenderly, and Tom’s praise of her 
fortitude made the smarting much easier 
to bear; and in a few minutes the three 
children w^ere on their way to the barn 
again. 

On the barn-floor lay a large rat, gray 
around the nose from age, and nearly as 
large as the barn- cat herself, who sat 
near by. 

He ’s an old fellow,” said Michael ; “ye 
can see that by the gray beard of him.” 

“ Look at his long yellow teeth,” said 
Tom, stooping to examine the rat more 
closely, “and one of them is broken ofl*. 
I guess ’twas done in a fight, don’t you, 
Michael? ” 

“ It ’s as like as not,” answered Michael. 

“ How pleased the cats seem to be ! ” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 253 

said Posy, looking from the barn-cat, who 
watched the dead rat with so much satisfac- 
tion, to the gray kitten, who looked on from 
behind her, and the house-cat, who appeared 
at the door and looked in with great in- 
terest. The tiger-kittens came too, and 
were so curious they could n’t see all they 
wanted to without going up to the rat and 
smelling around him, till their mother gave 
a little meaw ” and drove them back. 
Then the house-kittens came too, and 
peeped around the corner. 

I hn glad he ’s out of the way, even if I 
did n^t catch him myself,” said the house-cat. 

The barn- cat was of too generous a 
disposition to boast of her victory. “ It 
does n’t make any difference who caught 
him, now that he is caught. What I want 
to see next is, these boards ripped up and 
the old fellow’s nest examined ; for I am 
certain my collar and Posy’s necklace will 
be found there.” 


254 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


“ I wonder they don’t think of it,” said 
the house-cat ; but human beings are so 
stupid I declare I Ve no patience with 
them.” 

The cats mew just as if they were 
talking it over,” said Tom. 

I should n’t wonder if they were,” said 
Posy ; “I wish we knew what they were 
saying.” 

I wish you did ” said the house-cat, 
but that would be expecting too much 
of you.” 

The sparrow, too, had heard the news, 
and perched on the window to get a look at 
the notorious Graywhisker who had caused 
so much mischief. 

I should have been in a pretty fix if 
that old fellow had come home and found 
me in his house that time,” he said to him- 
self ; “ one thing is certain, I should n’t be 
sitting here now if he had. Hallo, my dear ! 
you came to get a sight of the old villain, 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


255 


did you ? he said to the bright-eyed 
sparrow who lit beside him. 

“I do believe those sparrows have come 
to see the rat too,” said Nancy. 

Major, also, had turned around in his 
box-stall and faced the little group assem- 
bled around the dead rat, and appeared to 
take great interest in tlie event. 

Now, the only thing left to do is to 
tear up those boards and bring the old 
fellow’s nest to light,” neighed Major. 

I guess Major is saying he ^s glad the 
old rat won’t be able to steal any more of 
his oats, don’t you, Tom I ” said Posy, 
going up to the gentle horse and stroking 
his soft nose. 

It ’s more likely he ’s after asking yees 
for the apples ye have in the hands of 
yees,” answered Michael. 

Major gave him as scornful a look as his 
mild eyes were capable of giving, and then 
rubbed his nose affectionately against the 


256 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


little hand that stroked him, in order to 
show his appreciation of the sympathy she 
had with his feelings. 

“ Papa,” cried Tom and Posy together, 
as Mr. Winton came out of the house, “ do 
come and see this awful big rat the barn-cat 
caught last night.” 

‘‘He was an old stager, and no mistake,” 
said Papa, looking at him. “ I want you, 
Michael, to take up these boards and de- 
stroy all the old nests. I don’t doubt there 
are a good man}^ of them.” 

The barn-cat was so delighted that she 
completely forgot her dignity, and catching 
sight of the tiger-kittens and house-kittens 
at play in the yard, raced up to them and 
chased tliem around till they thought she 
had suddenly lost her wits. 

“Well, I declare,” said the house-cat, 
who was too well bred to forget her dig- 
nity in such a manner, “ I thought you had 
a fit.” 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


257 


It did me good,’^ said tlie barn-cat ; 

I had to do something or I should have 
exploded with joy.” 

That afternoon, Michael, armed with a 
crowbar and hammer, went out to the 
barn, followed by the children, who seated 
themselves comfortably on the oat-box, 
where they could obtain a good view of 
Michael as he tore up the boards of the 
floor. 

Placing the crowbar under one of the 
planks, he gradually pried it up and laid it 
on one side. The children peeped curiously 
in, but to their great disappointment nothing 
was to be seen. 

“ It ’s here where they Ve been,” said 
Michael ; “I see the tracks of ^em.” 

Then another plank was pried up and 
laid aside, and Michael looked down and 
carefully examined the ground. It ’s here 
where the old villain lived, I ’ll be bound,” 
he exclaimed. 


17 


258 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Down jumped the children from the oat- 
box and stood beside Michael. 

“ There ^s his nest,” cried Tom excitedly, 
— that bunch of rags and twine in the 
corner.’’ 

It ’s right ye are,” replied Michael. 

What ’s that yellow thing there under 
that rag ? ” asked Tom. 

Michael stooped and picked up the object 
that had attracted Tom’s attention. 

“ My amber necklace,” shrieked Posy 
joyfully. Oh, I ’m so glad ! Now they 
won’t say you took it any more, Nancy ; ” 
and snatching the necklace from Michael’s 
hand, she darted out of the barn, calling 
“ Mamma ” so loudly that Mrs. Winton was 
at the door almost as. soon as Posy was. 

" My amber necklace,” cried Posy, waving 
it frantically over her head. ^^It was in 
the old rat’s nest. Come and see where he 
lived.” 

Mrs. Winton followed Posy to the barn. 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


259 


and looked into what had once been Gray- 
whisker’s home. 

“ It was right there, under that old rag,” 
cried Tom ; “I saw it first.” 

What is that little thing shining there f ” 
asked Mrs. Winton, pointing to a bright 
spot. 

Michael picked it up and handed it to 
her. 

<‘Why, it must be the padlock to the 
barn-cat’s collar!” exclaimed Mrs. Winton. 
“ What a thief the old fellow was ! I know 
now where the sugar and raisins must have 
gone. Tell Hannah to come here a minute, 
Tom.” 

Tom was off like a shot and soon re- 
turned, bringing Hannah, who looked greatly 
astonished at the unusual message. 

“ Hannah,” said Mrs. Winton, holding up 
the amber necklace, “ Posy’s necklace has 
been found in this old rat-hole, and also 
what is left of the barn- cat’s collar. You 


260 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


see your suspicions were unfounded. The 
thief who has caused so much mischief is 
now dead, and I think you will find that 
your stores in the loft will not disappear as 
fast Tis they used to.” 

Hannah was silent, and her face flushed. 

You do believe, noiv^ that Nancy is n’t 
a thief, don’t you, Hannah ! ” said Posy 
earnestly. 

“ Yes,” said Hannah slowly, for it cost 
her a great effort to acknowledge she had 
made a mistake ; I see I was mistaken, 
and I am sorry. I can’t say no more than 
that, as I know.” 

“ Hannah,” said Posy, with her sweetest 
smile, “ I don't think you are a mean girl, 
and I will help you cook whenever you 
want me to.” 

“ Then I ’m all right,” answered Hannah 
cheerfully. 

It would be hard to tell how happy Nancy 
was at the favorable turn affairs had taken ; 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


261 


and if such a thing were possible, the ani- 
mals, who had been the means of bringing 
it to pass, were even happier than she was. 
Mrs. Polly was so excited that for several 
days she talked the family almost to death, 
and the canary sang till it seemed as if his 
little throat would burst. 

The sparrow settled down into quite a 
model husband and father, and very seldom 
relapsed into his old habits. He and the 
little bright-eyed sparrow continued to be 
very fond of each other, and brought up 
many broods of young sparrows, — some of 
them lively young fellows like their father 
and as fond of keeping late hours as he used 
to be, and others as bright-eyed and domes- 
tic as the bright-eyed sparrow herself. 

The barn-cat and the house-cat continued 
to disagree in their ideas of education, but 
their kittens associated together with great 
amiability and did not share the jealousies 
of their mothers. 


262 


SPARROW, THE TRAMP. 


Little Nancy never left the kind friends 
who had befriended her, and was so devoted 
to Posy and made her so happy that a new 
nurse never appeared, and the children be- 
came more attached to her every day, if 
such a thing were possible. 



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